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Q^poiiation 


23  WIST  MAW  STMIT 

WnSTH,N.Y.  14SM 

(71«)«73-4S03 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
m 


Canadian  Instituta  for  Historical  IMicroraproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  da  microraproductions  historiquas 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Nota*  tachniquaa  at  bibliographiquaa 


Tha  Instituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  availabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  ba  bibliographically  uniqua, 
which  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction.  or  which  may  aignificantly  changa 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


□   Colourad  covara/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


I     I   Covars  damagad/ 


D 


n 

D 
D 

D 

n 


Couvartura  andommagia 


Covars  rastorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  rastaurte  at/ou  palliculAa 


I      I   Covar  titia  missing/ 


La  titra  da  couvartura  manqua 

Colourad  mai>a/ 

Cartas  giographiquas  an  coulaur 


Colourad  ink  (i.a.  othar  than  blua  or  black)/ 
Encra  da  coulaur  (i.a.  autra  qua  blaua  ou  noira) 


Colourad  platas  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planchas  at/ou  illuatrations  9n  coulaur 


Bound  with  othar  matarial/ 
RaliA  avac  d'autras  documants 

Tight  binding  may  causa  shadows  or  distortion 
along  intarior  margin/ 

La  rt  liura  sarria  paut  causar  da  I'ombra  ou  da  la 
diatortion  la  long  da  la  marga  intAriaura 

Blank  laavas  addad  during  rastoration  may 
appaar  within  tha  taxt.  Whanavar  possibla.  thasa 
hava  baan  omittad  from  filming/ 
11  sa  paut  qua  cartainas  pagas  blanchas  ajoutAas 
lors  d'una  rastauration  apparaissant  dans  la  taxta. 
mais.  lorsqua  cala  Atait  possibla,  caa  pagas  n'ont 
pas  «t«  filmAas. 


L'Institut  a  microfilm*  la  maillaur  axamplaira 
qu'il  lui  a  iti  possibla  da  sa  procurar.  Las  details 
da  cat  axamplaira  qui  sont  paut-Atra  uniquas  du 
point  da  vua  bibliographiqua.  qui  pauvant  modifiar 
una  imaga  raproduita,  ou  qui  pauvant  axigar  una 
modification  dans  la  mithoda  normala  da  filmaga 
sont  indiquAs  ci-dassous. 


I     I   Colourad  pagas/ 


Pagat  da  coulaur 

Pagas  damagad/ 
Pagas  andommagAas 

Pagas  raatorad  and/oi 

Pagas  rastaurAas  at/ou  palliculias 

Pagas  discolourad.  stainad  or  foxat 
Pagas  dAcolorAas,  tachatAas  ou  ptquies 

Pagas  datachad/ 
Pagas  dAtachAes 

Showthroughy 
Transparanca 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  inAgaia  da  I'imprassion 

Includas  supplementary  matarii 
Comprand  du  matArial  supplAmantaira 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  disponible 


r~n  Pages  damaged/ 

r~1  Pagas  raatorad  and/or  laminated/ 

r~~k  Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  foxad/ 

I     I  Pagas  detached/ 

r~yt  Showthrough/ 

I     I  Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I     I  Includes  supplementary  material/ 

rn  Only  edition  available/ 


D 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  refilmed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  totalement  ou  partiellement 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata.  una  pelura, 
etc.,  ont  At  A  filmAes  A  nouveau  da  fapon  A 
obtenir  la  mailleure  image  possible. 


0    Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplAmantaires: 


Wrinkled  pages  may  film  slightly  out  of  focus. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  est  filmA  au  taux  da  rAduction  indiquA  ci-dassous. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

22X 

26X 

»X 

y 

12X 

16X 

20X 

24X 

28X 

32X 

Th«  copy  filmad  h«r«  haa  baan  raproducad  thanka 
to  tha  ganaroaity  of: 

Soott  Library, 
York  Univaraity 
Toronto 

Tha  imagaa  appaaring  hara  ara  tha  baat  quality 
poaaibia  conaidaring  tha  condition  and  lagibiiity 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  kaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  apacifleationa. 


Original  copiaa  in  printad  papar  eovara  ara  filmad 
baginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  anding  on 
tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad  or  illuatratad  impraa- 
aion,  or  tha  back  covar  whan  appropriata.  All 
othar  original  copiaa  ara  filmad  baginning  on  tha 
firat  paga  with  a  printad  or  illuatratad  impraa- 
aion,  and  anding  on  tha  laat  paga  with  a  printad 
or  illuatratad  impraaaion. 


Tha  laat  racordad  frama  on  aach  microficha 
ahall  contain  tha  aymbol  — ►  (moaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  tha  aymbol  V  (moaning  "END"), 
whichavar  appliaa. 

IMapa.  plataa,  charta,  ate,  may  ba  filmad  at 
diffarant  raduction  ratioa.  Thoaa  too  larga  to  ba 
antiraly  includad  in  ona  axpoaura  ara  filmad 
baginning  in  tha  uppar  laft  hand  comar,  laft  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  aa  many  framaa  aa 
raquirad.  Tha  following  diagrama  illuatrata  tha 
mathod: 


L'axamplaira  film*  fut  raproduit  grica  i  la 
g*n4roait«  da: 

Soott  Library, 
York  Univanity 
Toronto 

Laa  imagaa  auivantaa  ont  At*  raproduitaa  avac  la 
plua  grand  aoin,  compta  tanu  da  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattatA  da  l'axamplaira  film*,  at  an 
conformiti  avac  laa  conditiona  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 

Laa  axamplairaa  originaux  dont  la  couvartura  an 
papiar  aat  ImprimAa  aont  filmte  an  commandant 
par  la  pramiar  plat  at  an  tarminant  soit  par  la 
damlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'impraaaion  oi:  d'illuatration,  soit  par  la  sacond 
plat,  aalon  la  caa.  Toua  laa  autraa  axamplairaa 
originaux  aont  filmte  an  commandant  par  la 
pramlAra  paga  qui  comporta  una  amprainta 
d'impraaaion  ou  d'illuatration  at  an  tarminant  par 
la  dami*ra  paga  qui  comporta  una  talki 
amprainta. 

Un  daa  aymbolaa  auivanta  apparattra  sur  la 
damidra  imaga  da  chaqua  microficha,  salon  la 
caa:  la  symbola  — ^  signifia  "A  SUIVRE",  la 
aymbola  ▼  aignifia  "FIN". 

Laa  cartaa,  planchaa,  tablaaux,  ate,  pauvant  Atra 
fiimia  A  daa  taux  da  reduction  diff«rants. 
Loraqua  la  documant  aat  trop  grand  pour  Atra 
raproduit  an  un  aaul  clich«,  il  aat  film«  A  partir 
da  I'angia  aupAriaur  gaucha,  da  gaucha  h  droita, 
at  da  haut  an  baa.  an  pranant  la  nombra 
d'imagaa  nteaaaaira.  Laa  diagrammaa  suivants 
illuatrant  la  m4thoda. 


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BY  J.«FENIMORE   COOPER. 

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;;i^        ||li((8)ielp<itat: 

*f^     *      LEA  &  BLANCHARD, 

SVCOSSaOBS  TO  OASBT  AND  CO. 

1839. 


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Entered  accordinjf  to  the  act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1839,  by       .> 

*«  J.   FENIMORE   COOPER, 

In  the  Clerk's  ofBce  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States,  in  and 
for  the  Northern  District  of  New  York. 


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THIS WORK, 


AN  IMPUriQT  KKM^  Ot  TBI 


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SERVICES,  PRIVATIONS,  HAZARDS  AND  SUFFERINGS  OF  THEMSELVES 


AND  THEIR  PREDECESSORS, 


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IS  orriRBO  AS  a  tribute  or  PRO^rovMO  respect, 


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THE  OFFICERS  OF  THE  NAVY, 


IMCLVDINO  THOSE  OF 

THE  MARINE  CORPS, 

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/      .  "I' BY  ONE,  ^  .  . 


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WHO  IS  fVIXT  SBlfSIILE  OF  ALL  THEIR  CLAIMS  ON  THE  REPUBLIC 


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FOR  ORATITVDE  AND  PROTECTION. 


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PREFACE. 


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While  biographies  of  naval  men  are  usually  replete 
with  interest,  on  account  of  the  hazards  and  stirring  in- 
cidents of  the  sea,  few  general  records  of  nautical  events 
have  been  found  to  attract  attention,  bb;yond  the  value 
that  is  attached  to  naked  facts.  If  such  has  been  the 
case  with  most  of  the  histories  of  even  the  marine  of 
Great  Britain,  a  service  that  admits  of  the  unity  and 
interest  that  belong  to  the  operations  of  flecfts,  still 
more  may  it  be  looked  for  in  the  records  of  the  isolated 
and  simpler  incidents  of  a  navy  like  that  of  the  United 
States.  The  difficulty  of  overcoming  this  great  ob- 
stacle has  been  foreseen  from  the  commencement  of 
this  work,  and  some  attempts,  that  are  connected  with 
the  arrangements  of  the  subject,  have  been  made  to 
obviate  it.  The  writer  is  far  from  flattering  himself 
with  entire  success,  for  a  history  of  detached  combats 
is,  in  truth,  a  series  of  episodes,  the  mind  scarcely  be- 
coming concentrated  on  one,  when  it  is  required  to 
give  its  attention  to  another,  while  the  connecting  ma- 
terials, according  to  the  ordinary  practice,  are  merely 
a  dry  detail  of  documents.  -^.-  > 


11 


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PREFACE. 


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In  order  to  overcome,  in  some  measure,  this  beset-  ,,i 
ting  difficulty,  as  little  reference  as  possible  is  made  to  ' 
documents,  in  the  body  of  the  work. 

The  first,  and  great  desideratum  of  history,  is 
truth;  the  second,  just  reflections  on  it.  If  the  dif- 
ficulty of  obtaining  truth  for  the  more  important  lead- 
ing events  of  the  world  be  universally  admitted,  this 
difficulty  is  increased  when  the  subject  by  its  essen-  '. 
tial  character,  requires  an  infinity  of  detail.  Bat- 
tles, whether  by  sea  or  land,  are  never  seen  by  the 
contending  parties,  from  the  same  point  of  view,  and 
their  descriptions  are  usually  more  conflicting  than  ^ 
any  other  portions  of  history.  Of  course,  a  work  that 
contains  little  more  than  a  narrative  of  combats,  is  pe- 
culiarly liable  to  errors.  Great  anxiety  has  been  felt 
to  remove,  as  much  as  possible,  this  objection  from  the 
present  book,  and,  while  the  writer  is  far  from  flatter- 
ing himself  with  entire  success,  he  trusts  his  honest 
endeavours  have  not  been  altogether  useless.  That 
there  are  many  omissions  is  highly  probable,  but  in  no 
instance  can  he  reproach  himself  with  the  commission 
of  intentional  faults  of  any  kind. 

Authorities  being  of  so  much  moment  to  the  histo- 
rian, it  was  intended  to  quote  them,  but  it  was  soon 
found  that  it  would  require  nearly  as  much  room  to 
cite  these  names,  and  all  the  minute  circumstances  by 
means  of  which  information  has  been  gleaned,  as  to 
relate  the  events  themselves.  It  is  hoped  that  the 
best  authorities  have  been  consulted,  and  many  officers 
of  the  highest  rank  and  reputation  have  consented  to 
add  their  oral  information  to  that  which  was  to  be  ob- 


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PREFACE. 


#-'?^.^'i»    '^• 


^  tained  from  official  reports,  public  documents,  and 
other  sources. 

To  the  latter  gentlemen,  the  writer  wishes  to  make 
his  public  acknowledgments,  for  the  liberality,  pa-  ^ 
tience  and  clearness  with  which  they  have  favoured 
him  with  their  explanations.  Witnesses  of  what  they 
have  related,  their  accounts  have  been  given  with  a 
caution,  modesty  and  fairness  that  lend  a  double  value  to 
their  authority.  Much  liberal  assistance  has  also  been 
received  from  the  Department,  and  from  the  eminent 
citizen  at  its  head.  To  James  E.  De  Kay,  M.  D.,  the 
writer  is  under  peculiar  obligations,  for  the  friendly 
and  handsome  manner  in  which  he  put  at  the  disposal 
of  the  latter,  many  notes  taken  with  care,  and  which 
have  proved  of  the  greatest  service,  in  the  course  of 
the  investigations.  To  the  library  of  the  American 
Philosophical  Society,  in  Philadelphia,  the  writer 
is  equally  indebted  for  much  valuable  and  inter- 
esting matter,  and  he  would  be  wanting  in  sensibility 
were  he  not  publicly  to  express  his  gratitude  for 
the  generous  manner  in  which  its  stores  ol'information 
have  been  thrown  open  to  him.  To  the  City  Library 
of  Philadelphia,  also,  though  established  on  a  principle 
that  allowed  him  more  claim  to  ask  for  aid,  he  is  under 
great  obligations,  its  shelves  usually  supplying  the  re- 
quired authorities  when  other  sources  have  failed.  He 
desires  also  to  mention  his  obligations  to  the  Naval 
Chronicle  of  Mr.  Goldsborough,  in  which  book  he  has 
found  much  accurate  and  useful  matter. 

Some  of  the  greatest  writers  of  the  age  have  im- 
paired the  dignity  of  their  works,  by  permitting  the 


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PREFACK. 


peculiarities  of  style  that  have  embellished  their  hgnter 
labours,  to  lessen  the  severity  of  manner  that  more 
properly  distinguishes  narratives  of  truth.  This  dan- 
ger has  been  foreseen,  in  the  present  instance,  though 
the  nature  of  the  subject,  which  seldom  rises  to  the 
level  of  general  history,  offers  a  constant  temptation  to 
offend.  A  middle  course  has  been  adopted,  which  it 
is  hoped,  while  some  defects  of  execution  may  proba- 
bly be  detected,  will  be  found  on  the  whole  to  be  suit- 
ed to  a  recital  of  facts,  in  the  familiar  form  that,  in  a 
measure,  the  incidents  have  demanded.  Without  some 
concessions  to  details,  sufficient  interest  could  not  have 
been  secured,  while  those  that  were  too  minute  might 
have  thrown  discredit  on  the  truth. 

It  will  be  seen  that  some  vessels  are  rated  in  this 
work  differently  from  what  the  public  has  been  accus- 
tomed to  consider  accurate.  Every  mode  of  rating  is 
liable  to  some  objections,  and  nothing  is  more  fallacious 
than  to  estimate  the  power  of  a  ship  by  the  number  of 
her  guns.  Two  great  elements  of  force  enter  into  the 
composition  of  a  vessel  of  war :  the  ability  to  annoy, 
and  the  ability  to  endure.  A  ship  of  one  thousand 
tons  burthen,  armed  with  one  heavy  gun,  might  resist, 
for  a  long  time,  a  dozen  vessels  of  thirty  tons,  each 
armed  with  the  same  species  of  gun.  This  advantage 
would  arise  from  the  greater  ability  of  the  large  vessel 
to  endure.  On  the  other  hand,  the  same  ship,  armed 
with  one  heavy  gun,  would  probably  capture  a  similar 
?i(»sel  armed  with  twenty  very  light  guns,  her  ability 
to  annoy  being  the  greatest.  A  32,  according  to  the 
old  mode  of  rating,  carries  26  twelves  on  her  gun- 


t  'J 


■     .•  T 


■  '-:^ 


! » V 


#•. 


^^-  ^ 


PRErAOE. 


'^"    ^.-■■':;V»^i- 


:m 


deatf  llnd  a  36  carries  26  eighteens  on  her  gun-deck, 
both  vessels  often  possessing  the  same  armaments  on 
their  quarter-decks  and  forecastles.  Here  are  two 
ships  of  the  same  number  of  guns,  but  of  very  unequal  ^,  ^. 
force,  the  one  being  a  twelve-pounder  frigate,  and 
the  other  an  eighteen- pounder  frigate.  With  a  view 
to  give  an  accurate  idea  of  comparative  forces,  the  old 
English  mode  of  rating  has  been  carried  through  the 
American  navy,  in  this  work,  in  order  to  make  one 
vessel  properly  compare  with  another.  Thus  the 
"New- York  frigate  was  properly  called  a  36,  while 
the  Adams  was  improperly  called  a  32,  her  true  rate 
having  been  that  of  a  28,  &c.  &c.  Some  apparent 
discrepancies,  however,  will  be  seen  in  this  book.  The  ^ 

Enterprise,  for  instance,  is  at  first  called  a  12,  and        » 
subsequently  a  14.    The  difference  is  owing  to  altera- 
tions in  the  piercing  of  the  vessel,  and  in  the  nature 
of  her  armament,  as  this  schooner  underwent  repairs. 
Other  small  vessels  were  similarly  altered. 

With  these  few  explanations,  a  task  that  has  long 
been  meditated,  but  which,  after  all,  has  been  hur- 
riedly accomplished,  is  submitted  to  the  world,  with 
quite  as  much  apprehension  as  hope. 


ff 


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;»;i   .^''^ 


INTRODUCTION. 


(~  -     - 

'  ■  >■ 

;',^/:&' 

^i.?  • 

J             1- 

ipv 

->    *L,',     1 

i  /;. 

-t^..Ki^ 


As  in  a  '  'n<Tle  life,  man  passes  through  the  several  stages 
of  his  physical  and  moral  existence,  from  infancy  to  age,  so 
will  the  American  of  the  present  generation.  Witness  the 
advance  of  his  country,  from  the  feebleness,  doubts  and 
caution  of  a  state  of  conscious  weakness,  to  the  healthful- 
ness  and  vigour  of  strength.  So  rapid,  however,  have  been 
the  transitions,  that  opinion  has  not  kept  pace  with  the  facts 
of  the  country.  Thus  it  is,  that  we  so  often  find  even  states- 
men reasoning  on  the  policy  of  the  republic,  after  the  man- 
ner of  their  youth,  in  apparent  ignorance  of  all  the  important 
changes  that  have  occurred  within  the  last  forty  years; 
for,  to  adapt  the  argument  to  the  level  of  circumstances,  in  a 
-country  like  this,  requires  a  mind  of  incessant  activity,  and 
one  accustomed  to  reason  in  advance,  rather  than  in  the 
rear  of  events. 

In  no  great  interest  connected  with  the  welfare  of  the 
United  States  are  these  truths  more  apparent,  than  in  all  that 
relates  to  the  navy.  While  those  who  have  reflected,  hav« 
clearly  foreseen  that  the  republic  must  assert  its  place  in 
the  scale  of  nations,  defend  its  territory,  and  maiiltain  itf 

Vol.  I 2 


'r 


i"* 


# 


■i^ 


.% 


^* 


XIV 


IHTRODUOTIOir. 


rights,,  principally  by  means  of  a  powerful  marine,  all  are 
compelled  to  acknowledge  that  the  growth  of  this  branch 
of  the  public  service  has  been  slow,  uncertain,  and  marked 
by  a  policy  as  timid  as  it  has  been  fluctuating.    Three 
several  times  did  the  national  legislature  authorize  the  con- 
struction of  vessels  of  force,  before  they  were  built ;  and 
they  were  finally  put  into  the  water,  at  a  period  when  they 
could  not  be  rendered  available  against  an  enemy.    Thirty 
years  since,  the  opinion  that  there  was  something  unsuit- 
ed  to  American  policy,  in  the  employment  of  two-decked 
ships,  appears  to  have  been  as  general  in  the  country,  as 
it  was  erroneous.    Because  the  nation  had  recently  been 
too  feeble  to  employ  agencies  that  implied  so  much  force, 
it  was  secretly  fancied  that  the  obstacles  were  permanent. 
Id  other  words,  opinion  had  not  kept  au  even  pace  with  facts. 
It  has  long  been  confessed  that  America  possessed  every 
qualification  for  the  creation  of  a  powerful  navy,  but  men 
and  money.    The  necessary  skill,  the  required  aptitude  for 
sea-service,  and  the  other  requisites  have  always  been  ad- 
mitted; but  it  has  been  asserted  that  neither  the  finances, 
nor  the  population  would  allow  of  the  drain  on  their  resour- 
ces, that  is  unavoidably  connected  with  a  strong  marine. 
The  two  deficiencies,  if  they  actually  existed,  would  cer- 
tainly be  fatal.  ri4>>^..5rV'if-?iKVf, 

In  the  years  1812,  1813,  and  1814,  the  republic  expended 
considerably  more  than  $50,000,000,  on  its  current  military 
operations,  without  reference  to  the  large  sums  that  were 
lubsequcntly  paid  on  the  same  account.  This  war  lasted  but- 
V^9  yS^^9  aud  ^ight  months,  and  during  the  first  season  its 


4v 


il 


I  ii 


^■.2r 


■^' 


x^ 


^:^^' 


■:^' 


<=% 


its 


'         iirtRODuoTioir. 

operations  were  very  limited.  Thus  930,000,000  more  were 
paid  on  account  of  military  charges,  in  the  two  years  of 
peace  that  immediately  succeeded,  making  a  total  of 
$80,000,000.  It  is  known  that  even  this  large  sum  ^lls  ma- 
terially short  of  the  truth.  During  the  «ame  five  years,  the 
money  expended  on  the  navy  amounted  to  only  $30,000,000, 
although  the  peculiar  nature  of  the  service  on  the  lakes  in- 
volved  an  enormous  and  an  unusual  expenditure,  and  a  war 
with  Algiers  occurred,  during  which  the  country  maintain- 
ed afloat  a  much  larger  force  than  it  had  ever  previously 
employed.  In  addition,  the  greatest  part  of  this  expendi- 
lure,  was  the  cost  of  new  constructions.  It  follows,  that 
America  expended  nearly  two  dollars  on  her  army,  and  its 
military  operations,  in  the  war  of  1812,  for  every  dollar 
expended  on  her  navy,  including  the  expense  of  building 
most  of  the  costly  vessels  of  the  service.  Had  the  fact 
been  precisely  reversed,  it  is  probable  that  the  proportions 
required  by  true  policy  would  have  been  better  observed, 
and  there  can  be  but  little  doubt  that  the  country  would 
have  reaped  the  advantage,  for,  no  serious  invasion  of  Amer- 
ica will  ever  be  attempted  in  the  face  of  a  strong  fleet,  aAer 
the  country  shall  be  provided  with  docks  and  arsenals,  by 
means  of  which  accidental  reverses  can  be  remedied.  By  ^'■ 
dividing  the  large  sum  expended  on  the  army  and  navy, 
between  the  years  1812  and  1816,  inclusively,  $40,000,000 

would  have  fallen  to  the  share  of  each  branch  of  the  ser-    . 

V. 

vice,  which  would  have  given  $8,000,000  a  year  to  the 
navy.    This  sum  would  be  amply  sufiicient  to  maintain  a"   . 
force  of  twenty  sail  of  the  line,  with  a  suitable  number 


"m 


'A.  iidif 


I  I 


XVI 


IlfTBODUOTIOir. 


*- 


of  small  vessels,  to  cruise  in  company.  Against  such  a  fleet, 
no  European  power  could  have  attempted  an  invasion  of  a 
coast  so  distant  from  its  own  resources. 

This  fs  an  outline  of  the  facts  of  1812.  Those  of  the 
present  day,  in  no  degree  impair  the  principle,  though  the 
introduction  of  steam  may  modify  its  application.  Nor  can 
it  be  objected  that  these  statements  are  liable  to  the  deduc- 
tions which  practice  is  usually  found  to  make  in  estimates, 
since  they  are,  in  truth,  results  and  not  premises.  The  only 
departure  ijrom  a  known  fact,  is  to  transfer  a  portion  of  the 
actual  current  expenditure  of  the  country,  a  quarter  of  a  cen- 
tury since,  from  one  branch  of  its  public  service  to  another. 

It  may  be  taken  as  a  rule,  that  wherever  there  is  money, 
men  will  not  be  wanting.  But  the  government  of  the  United 
States  has  never  resorted  to  the  most  obvious  means  of 
manning  a  large  marine.  Until  the  effort  shall  be  properly 
made,  it  is  weak  to  assume  the  impossibility  of  the  measure. 
The  number  of  actual  seamen  necessary  in  a  large  ship  is 
much  smaller  than  is  commonly  supposed,  and  it  is  probable 
that  there  was  not  a  moment,  during  the  year  1814,  when 
the  public  and  private  armed  vessels  of  the  country,  did  not 
contain  people  enough  of  all  sorts,  with  a  proper  addition 
of  landsmen,  to  man  a  fleet  of  sufficient  strength  to  have 
swept  the  American  seas.  The  impressed  American  sea- 
men, who  were  put  into  the  prisons  of  England,  after  the 
declaration  of  war  in  1812,  would,  of  themselves,  have  fur- 
nished nearly  all  the  petty  officers  and  seamen  of  ten  sail  of 
the  line,  and  had  only  those  ten  sail  of  the  line  existed  a  few 
years  previously,  it  is  probable  not  one  of  these  men  would 


".I 


iiTTRODDcrnoir. 


XTii 


have  been  the  subject  of  the  outrage  by  which  he  was  depriv- 
ed  of  liberty.  Whenever  the  government  of  the  United  States 
shall  be  engaged  in  a  war  with  any  great  naval  power,  and 
shall  see  fit  to  withhold  commissions  from  privateers,  grant- 
ing,  at  the  same  time,  the  proceeds  of  all  prizes  to  the  offi- 
cers and  men  of  their  public  cruisers,  it  will  be  found  that 
adventurers  will  not  be  wanting.  In  the  contest  of  1818, 
the  vessels  of  war  were  directed  to  destroy  the  ships  they 
took,  because  the  enemy  was  known  so  closely  to  infest 
the  coast,  that  it  was  almost  impossible  to  get  a  prize 
in,  whereas  a  strong  force  would  put  an  end  to  all  sorts  of 
blockades.  Most  of  the  prizes  taken  by  Capt  Porter  in  the 
Pacific,  and  which  made  the  attempt  to  get  to  America, 
traversed  the  immense  distance  between  Valparaiso,  or  the 
Marquesas,  and  the  American  coast  in  safety,  to  fall  into 
the  hands  of  their  enemy,  when  a  few  days,  or  a  few 
hours  run  from  port.  It  should  be  remembered,  that,  in 
political  measures,  as  in  all  the  other  interests  of  life,  weak- 
ness is  the  parent  of  misfortune,  while  the  results  of  energy 
and  force,  are  in  an  arithmetical  proportion  to  their  means. 
There  can  be  no  reasoning  more  unsound,  than  to  assume 
that  the  consequences  of  a  defective  policy,  are  to  be  taken 
as  the  premises  of  a  wise  policy. 

A  careful  review  of  these  facts  and  principles,  must 
satisfy  all  who  study  the  subject,  that  the  United  States  of 
America  have  never  resorted  to  the  means  necessary  to 
develope,  or  even,  in  a  limited  sense,  to  employ  their  own 
naval  resources.  As  a  consequence,  they  have  never  yet 
eajoyed  the  advantage  of  possessing  a  powerful  marine  in 

a* 


^^ 


-ji 


■I 


» 


i.1*!f 


(  \ 


*•  ' 


xviii  .         ufTRODooTioir.       , 

a  lime  of  war,  or  have  felt  its  influence  in  sustaining  their 
negotiations,  and  in  supporting  their  national  rights,  in 
a  time  of  peace.  As  yet,  the  ships  of  America  have 
done  little  more  than  show  the  world  what  the  republic 
might  do  with  its  energies  duly  directed,  and  its  resources 
properly  developed,  by  demonstrating  the  national  aptitude 
for  this  species  of  warfare.  p.'  n^  --'• 

;,  But  the  probationary  period  of  the  American  marine 
.  is  passing  away,  and  the  body  of  the  people  are  begin- 
ning to  look  forward  to  the  appearance  of  their  fleets  on 
the  ocean.    It  is  no  longer  thought  there  is  an  unfitness  in 
the  republic's  possessing  heavy  ships ;  and  the  opinion  of 
the  country,  in  this  as  in  other  respects,  is  slowly  rising  to 
the  level  of  its  wants.    Still  many  lingering  prejudices  re- 
main  in  the  public  mind,  in  connexion  with  this  all-impor- 
tant subject,  and  some  that  threaten  the  service  with  se- 
rious injury.     Of   these,  the    most    prominent  are,   the 
mode  in  which  the  active  vessels  are  employed;   a  ne- 
glect of  the  means  of  creating  seamen  for  the  public  ser- 
vice ;  the  fact  that  there  is  no  force  in  commission  on  the 
American  coast ;  the  substitution  of  money  for  pride  and 
self-respect,  as  the  aim  of  military  men ;  and  the  impairing 
of  discipline  and  lessening  the  deference  for  the  justice  of 
the  state,  by  the  denial  of  rank.        ;  •  ....  (^i,-;  > Vfeilf^i 
■<«  Under  the  present  system  of  employing  the  public  ves- 
sels, none  of  the  peculiar  experience  that  belongs  to  the 
higher  objects  of  the  profession  is  obtained.     While  ships 
may  be  likened  to  regiments,  as  regards  the  necessity  of  ma- 
nosuvring  together,  there  is  one  important  feature  in  which 


.>fc,r..4 


IlTTRODVOTIOir. 


they  are  totally  dissimilar.  It  may  be  pretty  safely  thought 
that  one  disciplined  regiment  \vill  march  as  far,  endure  as 
m.uch,  and  occupy  its  station  as  certainly  as  another,  but 
no  such  calculation  can  be  made  on  ships.  The  latter  are 
machines,  and  their  qualities  may  be  improved  by  human 
ingenuity,  when  their  imperfections  have  been  ascertained 
by  experiment.  Intelligent  comparisons,  are  the  first  step 
in  this  species  of  improvement.       ■  —  -■ 

It  will  be  clear  to  the  dullest  mind,  that  the  evolutions  of 
a  fleet,  and,  in  a  greater  or  less  degree,  its  success,  must 
be  dependent  on  the  qualities  of  its  poorest  vessels ;  since 
its  best  cannot  abandon  their  less  fortunate  consorts  to  the 
enemy.  '  The  naval  history  of  the  world  abounds  with  in- 
stances, in  which  the  efforts  of  the  first  sea  captains  of  their 
respective  ages,  have  been  frustrated  by  the  defects  of  a 
portion  of  the  ships  under  their  command.  To  keep  a 
number  of  vessels  in  compact  order,  to  cause  them  to  pre- 
serve their  weatherly  position  in  gales  and  adverse  winds, 
and  to  bring  them  all  as  near  as  possible  up  to  the  stand- 
ard that  shall  be  formed  by  the  most  judicious  and  careful 
commander,  is  one  of  the  highest  aims  of  naval  expe- 
rience. On  the  success  of  such  efforts  depend  the  results 
of  naval  evolutions  more  frequently  than  on  any  dexterity 
in  fighting  guns.  An  efficient  fleet  can  no  more  be  formed, 
without  practice  in  squadrons,  than  an  efficient  army  with- 
out evolutions  in  brigades.  By  not  keeping  ships  in  squa- 
drons, there  will  also  be  less  emulation,  and  consequently 
less  improvement.  .•->-.'.  '>■  ^ 'v;"^  ^ -,<;«!>.  i*<-ri^#  v.- ^-v;^ 
.#,  Under  the  present  system,  three  principal  stations  are 


m 


'^^ 


-4 


t: 


m 


X' 


XX 


IlfTMkDOOTIOII* 


mtintained;  two  in  tho  Atlantic,  and  one  in  the  Mediterra- 
nean. On  neither  of  thege  stations  would  the  presence  of  a 
vessel  larger  than  a  sloop  of  war  be  necessary,  on  ordinary 
occasions,  provided  a  force  of  heavy  ships  could  periodically 
and  unexpectedly  appear  on  all.  It  is  seldom  that  a  single  ship 
of  the  line  is  required  on  any  service,  and  it  is  certain  that  a 
solitary  two-decked  vessel  could  have  no  great  influence  on 
those  important  interests  which  it  is  the  practice  of  the  rest 
of  Christendom  to  refer  to  the  agencies  of  fleets.  By  putting 
in  commission  six  or  eight  two-decked  ships,  and  by  caus- 
ing them  to  appear,  from  time  to  time,  on  all  the  more 
important  stations  this  side  of  the  two  great  southern  capes, 
the  country,  at  no  material  additional  cost,  would  obtain 
the  several  objects  of  practice  in  fleets,  of  comparative 
trials  of  the  qualities  of  the  most  important  class  of  ves- 
sels in  the  navy,  of  a  higher  state  of  discipline,  and  of  a 
vast  improvement  in  the  habits  of  subordination,  on  the 
part  of  commanders,  a  defect  that  all  experience  shows 
is  peculiar  to  the  desultory  mode  of  service  now  in  use, 
and  which  has  produced  more  naval  disasters  in  the  world, 
than  probably  any  other  one  cause.  In  a  word,  the  prin- 
cipal ends  of  a  navy  can  no  more  be  obtained,  by  the 
services  of  single  ships,  than  wars  can  be  decided  by 
armies  cut  up  into  battalions.  Small  vessels  are  as  indis- 
pensable, for  lower  schools  of  practice,  as  company  drills  in 
an  army;  but  squadrons  alone  can  produce  the  highest  class 
of  oflicers,  the  steadiest  discipline,  or  the  desired  objects.  < 
In  addition  to  this  neglect  of  accustoming  the  service  to 
the  use  of  the  particular  sort  of  force  necessary  to  render 


•  V 


'$- 


>  li: 


m 


V 


lirTRODUOTIOIt. 


XXI 


V  V 


a  marine  eflfective  for  groat  ends,  the  history  of  the  vrorld 
cannot  probably  supply  a  parallel  to  that  forgetfulness  which 
the  American  government  has  manitestod  of  all  the  known 
incentives  of  human  exertions,  n  the  managoment  of  the 
navy.  A  portion  of  the  inducements,  that,  under  other 
forms  of  government,  are  freely  used  for  this  purpose,  un- 
der  a  system  like  that  of  the  United  States,  are  necessarily 
withheld,  as  they  are  believed  to  be  opposed  to  the  govern- 
ing principles  of  the  institutions.  To  this  class  of  incen- 
tives belong  all  those  rewards  that  are  connected  with 
personal  and  hereditary  social  rank.  That  the  power  to 
confer  honours  of  this  nature,  is  a  vast  increase  to  the 
influence  of  a  government,  is  incontrovertible ;  and  in  dis- 
carding it  for  objects  that  are  thought  to  be  of  still  greater 
importance,  the  utmost  care  should  be  taken  not  to  neglect 
its  substitutes.  The  man  who,  refusing  to  adopt  re- 
medies that  he  believes  unsuited  to  his  constitution,  is  dis- 
creet, when  he  carries  his  system  so  far  as  to  forget  to 
look  for  others  to  supply  their  places,  becomes  careless 

and  culpable.  .•  "    -^ -*-- 

Next  to  personal  reputation,  military  rank  is  the  highest 
stimulus  of  a  military  life.  Its  possession  enters  into  all  the 
day  dreams  of  the  young  aspirant  for  fame  and  honours, 
is  inseparable  from  self-respect,  and  is  indissolubly  con- 
nected with  discipline.  With  these  indisputable  truths  in 
full  view,  they  who  have  had  the  care  of  graduating  and 
regulating  this  important  interest,  for  the  American  ma- 
rine, have  simply  selected  that  part  of  the  system  of  the 
mother  country,  that  did  not  conflict  with  popular  institu- 


*; 


\. 


#♦ 


f 


* 


.T'fJ 


I        w 


0 


-.. 


i 


.  |^  .. 


xxH 


IITTRODDOTIOir. 


tions,  without  adverting  to  its  fitness  for  the  peculiar  stat« 
of  things  to  which  it  was  to  be  applied.  This  was  like  re- 
jecting the  heart  of  the  fruit  because  it  was  unhealthy, 
and  carefully  preserving  the  rind.  But  a  few  explanations 
will  render  our  meaning  more  clear.  .   .«.  . 

The  nature  of  the  English  government  is  no  secret.    A 
territorial  aristocracy,  promotion,  in  both  the  army  and  the 
navy,  is  the  inevitable  fruit  of  favour,  or  of  personal  power. 
In  the  army,  the  mode  of  purchasing  rank  has  been  adopt- 
ed, by  means  of  which  the  affluent  are  at  all  times  enabled 
to  secure  the  most  desirable  stations  for  their  children ;  but, 
professional  knowledge  being  indispensable  to  a  sea-officer, 
a  different  plan  was  introduced  into  the  marine.    Accord- 
ing to  this  system,  the  name  of  a  boy  was  entered  on  the 
books  of  a  ship,  and  after  he  had  been  thus  rated  a  cer- 
tain number  of  years,  it  was  competent  for  the  admiralty  to 
raise  him,  at  pleasure,  as  high  as  the  rank  of  captain,  when 
his  career  became  more  regular.    As  this  rank  of  captain, 
however,  afforded  most  of  the  opportunities  for  acquiring 
reputation  and  money,  it  was  the  first  great  object  of 
all  aspirants,  and  it  ^ited  the  policy  of  such  a  form  of  go- 
vernment to  make  the  intermediate  steps,  between  the  con- 
dition of  probation,  and  that  when  the  officer  obtained  his 
permanent  relative  rank  for  life,  as  few  as  possible.    Thus 
were  found  in  the  British  navy  but  two  commissions  between 
the  midshipman  and  the  captain ;  that  of  a  lieutenant,  and 
that  of  a  master  and  commander.     When  the  narrow  po- 
litical system  under  which  these  probationary  ranks  were 
established  was  in  full  activity,  the  sons  of  men  of  influ- 


¥f 


^ 


INTRODUOTIOir. 


XXUl 


ence  oAen  passed  through  the  stations  of  lieutenant  and 
master  commandant,  in  two  or  three  years.  Nothing  was 
more  common  than  to  find  captains  in  command  of  fri- 
gates, who  had  served  but  eight  or  ten  years  in  the  navy, 
with  lieutenants  to  take  care  of  their  ships,  who  had  passed 
double  the  time  under  that  one  commission  alone. 

Although  this  system,  so  far  as  the  regulation  of  the 
ranks  is  concerned,  was  adopted  entire  into  the  American 
service,  nothing  can  be  more  unsuited  to  our  state  of 
society,  to  policy,  and  to  the  actual  wants  of  the  navy. 
For  many  years,  all  the  promotions  of  the  American  ma- 
rine, were  limited  to  three!  Even  at  this  day,  with  full  ex- 
perience of  the  evils  of  a  system  of  incentives  so  meagre,  and 
of  a  concentration  of  rank  so  destructive  of  self-respect  and 
discipline,  the  life  of  the  American  naval  officer  is  cheered 
by  only  four  promotions,  two  of  which  are  little  more  than 
the  changes  that  nature  herself  demands,  by  transferring 
the  officer  from  the  duty  of  a  boy,  to  duty  more  becoming 
a  man.  —  ^  "^  v 

He  who  lives  without  the  inspiriting  view  of  preferment 
constantly  before  his  eyes,  literally  lives  without  hope,  and 
necessarily  without  ambition.  It  is  a  singular  fact,  that  in  a 
country  where  so  many  social  consequences  of  the  last  im- 
portance are  justly  traced  to  the  elasticity  of  a  hope  of  ad- 
vancement that  is  denied  to  no  American,  this  cruel  neglect 
should  have  been  manifested  to  the  interests  and  character 
of  a  branch  of  the  public  service  which  all  admit  to  be  of 
the  last  importance.  As  events  are  stronger  than  the  human 
will,  the  evil  consequences  of  this  indifference  to  the  feel- 


■m 


% 


(hs« 


'^m: 


Vm*t^ 


. 


■t. 


XXIV 


IlfTRODDCTIOir. 


iiigs  and  rights  of  the  navy,  are  easily  to  be  traced; 
facts  having  forced  from  the  government  substitutes  for  the 
legitimate  incentives  of  military  life,  that  are  dangerous  to 
the  military  character.  Money  has  been  made  to  supply 
the  place  of  ambition,  and  a  new  pay-bill  is  thought  to  be  a 
sufficient  corrective  of  all  the  evils  of  a  great  moral  neglect, 
and  of  a  most  crying  injustice ! 

It  is  time  that  America  began  to  think  for  herself  on  a 
subject  as  important  as  that  of  her  marine,  and  to  frame  a 
system  of  discipline  and  incentives,  of  resources  and  prac- 
tice, better  suited  to  her  political,  social  and  moral  condi- 
tion, than  the  factitious  and  exclusive  state  of  things  which 
has  so  long  served  her  for  a  model.  Personal  influence 
availing  nothing  in  procuring  promotion,  in  the  American 
marine,  all  its  officers  are  obliged  to  pass  through  the  same 
stages  of  probationary  service,  and,  with  the  exception 
of  the  cases  in  which  the  expediency  of  rewarding  suc- 
cess prevails,  each  individual  is  obliged  to  pass  an  equal 
portion  of  his  life  in  the  same  rank.  A  wise  policy 
would  impress  the  government  with  the  importance  of  add- 
ing as  many  stimulants  to  this  period  of  professional  life  as 
comports  with  convenience;  but  an  examination  of  facts 
will  show  that,  while  practice  has  exacted  concessions  to 
necessity,  the  opportunity  of  adding  the  incentives  of  pro- 
motions has  been  strangely  neglected.  Thus  it  is  that  we 
find  the  lower  ranks  of  the  service  separated  in  practice, 
by  stations  unknown  to  the  laws,  while  the  commission  is 
withheld  from  the  individual  who  temporarily  performs 
the  duty. 


fi.h- 

■     % 


^ 


i- 


v 


.•^ 


supply  *-' 


m'ik' 


Vi 


IITTRODUOTIOir. 


■i"^ 


XXV 


It  is  not  easy  fully  to  impress  on  the  minds  of  civilians 
the  immense  results  that  are  dependent  on  a  due  division 
of  military  rank.    The  commission,  which  represents  the 
power  of  the  state,  in  a  short  time  gets  to  be  the  substitute 
for  personal  qualities,  and  produces  that  prompt  and  nearly 
passive  obedience  which  are  indispensable  to  the  success  of 
military  movements.    The  common  man,  or  the  officer, 
who  at  any  moment  is  required  to  risk  his  life  under 
the  orders  of  another,  has  need  to  strengthen  his  habits 
of  submission,  by  all  the  auxiliaries   which  human  inge- 
nuity can  devise,  without  injustice.    To  prevent  a  resort 
to  abject  dread,  nations  have  introduced  the  substitute  of 
respect.    Equality  of  rank  is  uniformly  destructive  of  sub> 
ordination,  and  it  should  be  one  of  the  aims  of  a  wise  admi- 
nistration of  the  navy,  to  place  in  a  ship  as  many  different 
grades  of  officers,  as  may  comport  with  simplicity  and 
convenience.    A  regiment  has  always  six,  and  sometimes 
seven  distinct  classes  of  commissioned  officers,  in  its  fight- 
ing department ;  and  there  is  no  reason  why  a  ship  should 
not  be  equally  well  protected  against  the  evils  of  insubordi- 
nation, though  it  is  usual  to  limit  the  number  to  three. 

The  moral  effect  of  a  frequent  recurrence  of  promotions, 
also,  is  incalculable.  Each  step  is  an  incentive  to  exertion 
and  improvement,  and  a  corrector  of  habits.  When  young 
men,  in  particular,  are  condemned  to  pass  fifteen  or  twenty 
years  in  the  same  rank,  the  spirit  grows  weary,  the  charac- 
ter loses  its  elasticity,  the  ambition  is  deadened,  and  the  duty 
that,  with  a  proper  attention  to  these  details,  might  be  ren- 
dered attractive,  becomes  monotonous  and  discouraging. 

Vol.  I.— 3 


4/ 


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jftls' 


-# 


■^ 


i 


\i^:P-' 


XXVI 


IITTRODiraTIOir. 


By  minute  divisions  of  rank,  those  personal  sensibilities 
which  are  apt  to  seek  relief  in  personal  quarrels,  are  as- 
suaged by  the  habitual  deference  that  is  paid  to  the  com-*  \ 
mission.  The  whole  history  of  the  navies  of  the  world 
furnishes  very  few  instances  of  duels  between  sea-officers 
of  diiferent  ranks,  while,  unhappily,  too  many  cases  may  be 
found  of  meetings  between  equals.  -       .■'*::<     .•  • ,'  ;    • 

While  the  American  service,  without  the  same  motive, 
has  adopted  the  naked  system  of  the  English,  for  the  infe- 
rior stations  of  the  marine,  it  has  stopped  at  the  rank  of 
captain,  where,  in  truth,  the  great  incentives  and  rewards 
of  the  British  navy  really  commence.  In  England,  while 
there  are  only  two  commissions  below  that  of  a  captain, 
there  are  nine  superior.  In  addition  to  these  different  mili- 
tary commissions,  must  be  enumerated  several  professional 
dignities,  with  the  incentives  offered  by  knighthood  and 
social  rank.  •       ^  w.^;,  ,.         ,  .   .        ,;  ,    > 

The  rank  of  a  captain  in  the  navy  never  can  be  a  suffi- 
cient inducement  to  attract  the  highest  talents,  in  a  country 
in  which  every  species  of  preferment  is  open  to  competi- 
tion. Hope  has,  hitherto,  kept  the  service  together,  the 
want  of  fleets  furnishing  an  apparent  apology  for  trusting 
to  the  future.  To  pretend,  however,  to  manage  fleets  with 
officers  of  the  same  rank  as  the  commanders  of  single  ves- 
sels, infers  as  great  an  absurdity  as  to  pretend  to  manage 
ships  with  no  other  rank  than  that  of  a  midshipman.  There 
is,  indeed,  a  greater  connexion  between  rank  and  discipline, 
as  applied  to  fleets,  than  between  rank  and  discipline,  as 
applied  to  ships.    In  the  latter  case,  there  is  the  constant 


1  >  ■'' 


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*■■ 


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>- 

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-  -"^v-. 

♦  V 

,  ,V^^; 

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IirTRODUOTlOir. ''                 ^ 

,.■.'.     t. 

xxvii 

#' 


personal  inspection  of  the  superior  to  aid  authority ;  while 
in  the  former,  obedience  arises  purely  from  deference  to 
the  commission,  and  the  obligations  of  duty.  It  is  as  much 
the  nature  of  man  to  pay  respect  to  the  instructions  of  one 
clothed  with  an  authority  superior  to  his  own,  as  it  is  to 
cavil  at  the  opinions  and  instructions  of  his  equals.  It  is 
idle  to  expect  the  implicit  and  confiding  obedience  on  the 
one  hand,  and  the  self-relying  exercise  of  authority  on  the 
other,  that  are  indispensable  to  certain  and  combined  mili- 
tary operations,  without  imparting  to  the  superior  all  the 
power  that  habitually  attaches  itself  to  the  possession  of 
professional  rank.  .     .  '   , :  ,  "     i^'*    :  -^^ 

There  is  a  necessary  denial  of  some  of  the  cheapest  and 
most  available  incentives  to  public  service,  in  republican 
forms  of  government.  Personal  rank  is  withheld,  on  a 
general  and  wise  principle ;  but  to  increase  this  compara- 
tive feebleness,  by  denying  professional  rank,  is  to  add  wil- 
fully to  those  peculiar  defects  of  a  political  system,  that 
wisdom  would  teach  us  to  repair  by  all  practicable  means. 
It  is  a  rule  of  morals,  that  a  high  class  of  service  must  meet 
a  high  scale  of  rewards,  and  that  a  low  scale  of  rewards 
will  produce  a  low  class  of  service. 

In  addition  to  the  considerations  of  policy,  come  the 
claims  of  justice.  There  is  no  stronger  hold  on  the  services 
of  its  citizens,  than  a  perfect  reliance  on  the  justice  of  a 
state.  It  is  the  quality  that  most  binds  a  man  to  his  coun- 
try; which  most  elevates  that  country  in  the  eyes  of  the 
world ;  which,  in  truth,  renders  it  the  most  worthy  of  re- 
spect, obedience  and  love.    If  the  community  that  ceases 


% 


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1 1 


,« ) 


XXVUl 


IirTRODUCTlOW. 


to  protect  the  characters,  persons  and  property  of  its  mem< 
bers,  loses  all  moral  claim  to  their  allegiance,  so  does  the 
state  that  denies  the  rewards  due  to  its  servants,  weaken  its  \ 
right  to  expect  extraordinary  and  profitable  exertions.  It 
may,  moreover,  be  laid  down  as  a  safe  rule,  that  the  mili- 
tary  man  who  does  not  desire  military  rank,  is  deficient  in 
that  generous  ambition  which  courts  responsibility  and  is 
willing  to  encounter  danger.  *.  -  v  -   •  ■>:-■  i    'F'   >? 

The  claims  of  justice  cannot  be  dispensed  with,  in  the 
case  of  the  navy,  with  the  same  impunity  as  in  most  other 
instances  connected  with  the  public  service.  Seamen  go 
abroad ;  they  appear  in  their  professional  stations  before  the 
observation  of  foreign  states,  and  are  placed  in  constant 
contrast  with  the  servants  of  other  systems.  Republicanism 
itself  is  brought  into  disrepute,  in  denying  the  just  rewards 
of  long  services  to  officers,  by  attaching  to  it  the  weakness 
of  a  neglect  of  incentives,  an  ignorance  on  the  subject  of 
the  general  laws  of  discipline,  and  the  odium  of  injustice. 
It  is  by  forgetting  the  latter  quality,  more  through  the  indif- 
ference of  a  divided  power,  than  from  any  other  cause,  that 
republics  have  obtained  their  established  character  of  being 
ungrateful.  They  are  ungrateful  because  they  neglect  those 
means  of  security  that  are  connected  with  a  just  system  of 
reward^',  which  other  states  respect  from  apprehension.    ' 

The  necfc-^sity  of  creating  higher  rank  in  the  navy,  on 
account  of  its  influence  on  other  services,  more  especially 
when  acting  in  concert  with  American  fleets,  has  often 
been  pointed  out.  The  answer  to  this  practical  argument, 
has  usually  been  a  high  pretension  in  behalf  of  the  republic, 


I ) 


-'H' 


"^.. 


■i'  -f 


w 


IITTEODUOTIOir,;^ 


XXIX 


to  act  agreeably  to  its  own  policy,  and  a  right  to  insist  that 
any  notion  of  superiority  that  it  may  choose  to  attach  to 
the  station  of  a  captain  in  its  own  navy,  shall  be  recognised 
by  the  agents  of  other  governments.  This  extravagant 
idea  can  be  supported  by  neither  usage,  reason,  nor  common 
sense.  In  the  first  place,  all  international  questions  should 
be  settled  by  the  general  consent  of  states,  and  not  by  the 
peculiar  policy  of  any  particular  community.  As  well 
might  America  pretend  to  say  that  its  charges  d'affaires 
shall  have  the  rank  of  ambassadors  at  foreign  courts,  as  to 
say  that  its  captains,  under  any  circumstances,  shall  have 
the  rank  of  admirals  on  foreign  stations.  It  is  true,  a  nation 
has  a  right  to  say  that  a  rank  equivalent  to  that  of  an  ad- 
miral shall  exist  in  its  marine,  under  another  appellation; 
but  it  has  no  right  to  say  that  a  rank  recognised  by  itself 
as  merely  that  of  a  captain,  shall  be  entitled  to  receive  the 
honours  and  to  claim  the  authority  of  an  admiral,  among 
other  people.  The  usages  of  nations  must  control  this 
interest,  as  well  as  all  others  that  equally  affect  different 
states;  and,  as  there  is  nothing  new,  or  peculiar,  in  cap« 
tains  occasionally  commanding  squadrons,  under  the  tem- 
porary title  of  commodores,  among  all  the  naval  powers 
of  Christendom,  other  people  may  object  to  America's 
attaching  a  new  importance  to  an  old  commission.  The 
pretension  might  as  well  be  set  up  in  behalf  of  a  lieutenant 
as  in  behalf  of  a  captain ;  and  foreign  services  will  be  as 
likely  to  object  to  the  one  as  to  the  other.  It  is  no  answer 
to  say,  that  we  attach  the  consideration  of  an  admiral  to 
the  commission  of  a  captain,  since  the  fact  is  not  so.    If  it 

3* 


%' 


m 


'\' 


■i,    : 


1  I 


XXX 


HfTRODUCTIOir. 


■M" 


were,  the  question  would  be  altogether  unworthy  of  con- 
troversy, for  it  would  be  a  discussion  merely  about  a  name. 
If  a  captain  were  in  reality  an  admiral,  there  would  be  no 
sufficient  reason  for  calling  him  a  captain,  since  it  would  be 
rejecting  all  the  moral  aid  that  is  associated  with  establish- 
ed language,  without  a  corresponding  object.  There  can 
be  no  more  certain  sign  of  the  ignorance  of  a  people,  or  of 
their  unfitness  for  self-government,  than  the  practice  of  con- 
founding the  substance  with  the  reality,  and  an  enlightened 
nation  should  not  hesitate  to  use  the  name  when  it  pos- 
sesses the  thing.  Other  people  have  a  right  to  insist  on  this 
frankness,  as  it  is  the  simplest  means  of  preventing  mis- 
takes, and  is  answering  the  plainest  ends  of  language.  He 
is  no  friend  of  liberty,  who  is  not  the  friend  of  sincerity; 
and  the  politician  who  is  afraid  of  simplicity  and  frankness, 
manifests  his  distaste  for  truth. 

Without  gradations  in  military  rank  there  would  be  no 
subordination  or  discipline.  There  can  be  no  equality  in  an 
army  or  navy.  One  must  always  command,  and  the  rest 
must  obey.  It  is  true  it  might  be  possible  to  establish  a 
system,  by  which  all  the  officers  of  a  fleet  should  have  the 
same  titular  rank,  commanding  according  to  seniority;  but 
no  good  could  come  of  it.  In  the  first  place,  the  appella- 
tion would  not,  at  once,  indicate  the  relative  station  of  the 
individual,  as  at  present,  and  much  would  be  lost  in  time 
and  simplicity.  There  would  be  no  general  rule  by  which 
to  regulate  pay  and  emoluments,  and  the  laws  to  this  effect 
would  become  complicated  and  difficult  of  interpretation. 
Foreigners  would  not  know  whom  to  address  as  the  supe- 


•\v 


■>! 


ftv. 


♦i. 


K-^ 


I 


*■  IITTROOUOTlOir.  ,.       XXXI 

rior  and  whom  to  address  as  the  inferior,  nor  vrould  the 
government  of  the  country  itself  be  able  to  understand  its 
own  arrangements,  without  a  constant  recurrence  to  re- 
cords and  registers.    There  is  the  same  reason  for  calling 
the  commander  of  a  ship  a  captain,  as  there  is  for  calling 
its  disbursing  officer  a  purser,  and  its  medical  officer  a  sur- 
geon.   These  terms  explain  their  own  meaning,  which  is 
one  of  the  great  ends  of  language.    What  is  true  of  a  cap- 
tain, is  equally  true  of  an  admiral.    The  substitution  of  the 
term  commodore  for  that  of  admiral  is  liable  to  the  same 
objection  as  the  substitution  of  the  term  lieutenant  for  that 
of  captain.    It  does  not  mean  what  is  expressed.    A  com- 
modore fills  a  brevet  rank  of  the  highest  utility,  fpr  it 
enables  the  government  to  avail  itself  of  the  peculiar  talents 
of  any  active  partisan  captain,  by  detaching  him  for  tem- 
porary service,  with  a  small  squadron,  usually  of  light 
ships,  placing  it  in  the  power  of  those  who  control  naval 
movements,  to  overlook  seniority,  in  the  search  of  peculiar 
merit.   He  exists  as  a  beneficial  exception,  and  in  converting 
the  rank  into  the  rule,  an  authority  that  is  highly  useful  to 
the  department  is  lessened.    Admirals  are  as  necessary  to 
fleets,  as  captains  to  ships.    The  thing  must  exist,  under 
some  appellation  or  other,  and  if  the  old  term  brings  with 
it  additional  dignity,  respect,  authority,  and  adds  fresh  in- 
centives to  exertions,  it  is  utter  imbecility  to  discard  it. 
There  is  no  more  fitness  in  calling  the  commander  of  a 
fleet  a  captain,  or  even  a  commodore,  than  in  styling  the 
first  magistrate  of  the  republic,  a  justice  of  the  peace. 

It  is  often  asserted  that  the  superior  ranks  have  been 
withheld  from  the  American  marine,  because  there  exists  no 


t 


•  ). 


xxxu 


UrTRODUOTIOir. 


corresponding  military  titles  in  a  community  that  is  sensi- 
tively jealous  of  every  appearance  of  superiority.  Generals 
can  be  tolerated,  because  generals  abound  in  common  life; 
but  admirals  will  not  be  tolerated,  because  admirals  cannot 
argue  before  courts,  and  hope  to  escape  ridicule.  This, 
indeed,  would  be  subjecting  the  policy  of  a  great  nation, 
and  that  too  in  one  of  its  highest  interests,  to  the  envious 
and  absurd  feelings  of  a  village  rivalry.  The  objection  is 
unworthy  of  a  reply,  and  that  it  is  false,  is  proved  by  the  ex- 
cessive number  of  another  peculiar  rank  that  does  actually 
exist,  the  navy  fast  tending  towards  becoming  a  service  of 
commodores !  Indeed,  one  of  the  evils  of  withholding  the 
superior  rank  of  admiral,  is  the  disposition  it  creates  to  con- 
vert the  brevet  and  peculiar  station  of  commodore  into  a 
permanent  and  common  station,  defeating  its  object. 

The  propriety  of  adopting  for  the  navy,  a  brevet  rank 
corresponding  to  that  of  the  army,  has  been  frequently  dis- 
cussed, and,  in  one  instance,  it  was  seriously  recommend  :-^ 
to  Congress,  by  the  department.  While  there  is  a  peculiar 
fitness  in  an  American  army's  receiving  brevet  rank,  it  is  a 
mode  of  preferment  entirely  unsuited  to  all  navies.  The 
American  army  is  unavoidably  broken  up  into  small  de- 
tachments; commands  of  companies,  where  brevet  rank  be- 
comes available;  but  the  lieutenant  who  held  the  brevet 
rank  of  commander  would  still  be  obliged  to  act  as  a  lieu- 
tenant, since  ships'  companies  must  be  entire.  The  acting 
appointments  that  now  exist,  are  the  best  substitutes  for 
brevet  rank  in  a  marine,  if  it  be  thought  they  ought  not  to 
be  replaced  by  commissions.     ^*  '     "    ■:  v*"^' 

The  necessity  of  possessing  a  powerful  marine,  appears 


X 

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llfTRODUCTlOir. 


xxxiii 


now  to  be  generally  conceded.  While  all  parties  are  ready 
to  admit  the  expediency  of  creating  a  formidable  naval 
force,  however,  there  is  a  division  of  sentiment  as  to  the 
method  and  the  means.  Those  who  reason  for  the  future 
from  the  past,  are  disposed  to  limit  the  national  efforts,  should 
another  war  occur  with  England,  to  predatory  hostilities 
directed  against  her  commerce;  while  the  bolder  and  more 
original  thinkers  believe  that  the  time  has  come  when 
America  is  as  fully  able  to  protect  all  her  interests  at  sea, 
as  any  other  naval  power  of  Christendom.  They  contend, 
that  nothing  is  wanting  but  the  will,  and  the  necessary 
preparations. 

There  is  an  opinion  becoming  prevalent  that  the  use  of 
steam  will  supersede  the  old  mode  of  conducting  naval 
warfare.  Like  most  novel  and  bold  propositions,  this  new 
doctrine  has  obtained  advocates,  who  have  yielded  their 
convictions  to  the  influence  of  their  imaginations,  rather  than 
to  the  influence  of  reflection.  That  the  use  of  steam  will 
materially  modify  naval  warfare,  is  probably  true;  but  it 
cannot  change  its  general  character.  No  vessel  can  be 
built  of  sufficient  force  and  size,  to  transport  a  sufficiency 
of  fuel,  provisions,  munitions  of  war,  and  guns,  to  contend 
with  even  a  heavy  frigate,  allowing  the  last  to  bring  her 
broadside  to  bear.  It  may  be  questioned  if  the  heaviest 
steam  vessel  of  war  that  exists  could  engage  a  modern  two- 
decked  ship  even  in  a  calm,  since  the  latter,  in  addition  to 
possessing  much  greater  powers  of  endurance,  could  proba- 
bly bring  the  most  guns  to  bear,  in  all  possible  positions. 
Shot-proof  batteries  might  indeed  be  built,  that,  propelled  by 


'*\ti. 


X 


r^ifKt 


*      ■ 


* 


XXXIV 


IRTRODDOTIOir. 


■:    %. 


Steam,  would  be  exceedingly  formidable  for  harbour  de- 
fence, but  it  is  illusory  to  suppose  that  vessels  of  that  des- 
cription can  ever  bo  made  to  cruise.  Even  in  estimating 
the  power  of  steam-vessels  in  calms,  as  opposed  to  single 
ships  of  no  great  force,  there  is  much  exaggeration,  as  his- 
torical facts  will  amply  prove.  The  wars  of  this  country 
afford  several  instances  of  frigates  carrying  eighteen  poun- 
ders, lying  exposed  to  the  cannonade  of  fifteen  or  twenty 
gun-boats,  for  two  or  three  hours,  and  yet,  in  no  instance, 
has  any  such  vessel  been  cither  captured  or  destroyed.  It 
is  a  heavy  sea-steamer  that  can  bring  six  guns  to  bear  at  a 
time,  and  yet  frigates  have  resisted  twenty  guns,  advan- 
tageously placed,  for  hours.  It  may  be  said,  that  steamers 
would  dare  to  approach  nearer  than  gun-boats,  and  that, 
by  obtaining  more  favourable  positions,  they  will  be  so 
much  the  more  formidable.  There  is  but  one  position  in 
which  a  ship  can  be  assailed,  without  the  means  of  resist- 
ance, and  that  is  directly  ahead,  and  from  a  situation  near 
by.  Large  ships  can  hardly  be  said  to  be  defenceless,  even 
under  these  circumstances;  as  the  slightest  variation  in 
their  position,  would  always  admit  of  their  bringing  three 
or  four  heavy  guns  to  bear.  The  expedients  of  seamen 
offer  a  variety  of  means  of  changing  the  direction  of  a 
ship's  head  in  calms,  even  did  not  the  sea  itself  perform  that 
office  for  them.  Nothing,  for  instance,  would  be  easier 
than  to  rig,  temporarily,  wheels  to  be  propelled  by  hand, 
out  of  the  stern  or  bow  ports,  or  even  on  the  quarter,  that 
would  bring  a  large  ship's  forward,  or  after  guns,  to  bear, 
in  a  way  to  beat  off,  or  destroy,  a  steamer. 


a 


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■   ~*A 


INTRODUOTIOir. 


XXXV 


7^  /> 

,^    ii 


I 


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There  are  certain  great  principles  that  are  unchangeable, 
and  which  must  prevail  under  all  circumstances.  Of  this 
class,  is  the  well  established  fact,  that  a  ship  which  pos- 
sesses the  efficiency  which  is  contained  in  the  double  power 
to  annoy  and  to  endure,  must,  in  all  ordinary  circumstances, 
prevail  over  a  ship  that  possesses  but  one  of  these  advan- 
tages, and  that  too,  in  a  smaller  degree.  Steam  may  be, 
and  most  probably  will  be  made  a  powerful  auxiliary  of  the 
present  mode  of  naval  warfare,  but  it  is  by  no  means  likely 
to  supplant  it.  Fleets  may  be  accompanied  by  steamers, 
but  their  warfare  will  be  conducted  by  the  present  classes 
of  heavy  ships,  since  it  is  not  possible  to  give  sufficient 
powers  of  annoyance,  or  endurance,  to  vessels  propelled  by 
steam,  to  enable  them  to  lie  under  the  batteries  of  the  latter. 
Even  as  active  cruisers,  the  efficiency  of  steam-vessels  is 
probably  overrated,  on  account  of  the  consumption  of  fuel, 
though  it  remains  to  be  proved  by  experience,  whether  their 
employment  may  not  induce  a  change  in  the  armaments  of 
light  vessels  of  war.  The  history  of  the  war  of  1812, 
shows  that  ships  have  often  cruised  months  without  having 
fallen  in  with  convoys,  and  it  is  certain  that  no  steamer,  in 
the  present  state  of  science,  can  remain  at  sea  thirty  days, 
with  efficiency  as  a  steamer. 

In  a  word,  while  the  introduction  of  steam  into  na- 
val warfare,  will  greatly  modify  maritime  operations,  it 
is,  by  no  means,  likely  to  effect  the  revolution  that  is  sup- 
posed. In  those  portions  of  the  art  of  seamanship  that  it 
will  influence,  steam  will  meet  steam,  and,  in  the  end,  it  will 
be  found  that  the  force  of  fleets  will  be  required,  in  settling 
the  interests  of  states,  as  to-day.    Perhaps  the  greatest 


t^ 


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^^      ./ 


XXXVl 


INTRODUCTION. 


agency  of  this  new  application  of  a  steam-power  is  yet  to 
be  seen,  in  the  adoption  of  an  invention  of  an  officer  of  high 
rank  in  our  own  navy,  that  of  the  steam-prow.  For  the  pur- 
poses of  harbour-defence  this  idea  promises  more  than  any 
other,  though  it  is  by  no  means  certain  that  the  resources 
of  seamen  may  not  yet  discover  the  means  of  resisting  even 
this  threatening  means  of  destruction. 

Another  of  the  provisions  necessary  to  the  efficiency  of 
a  marine,  that  has  been  neglected  by  the  American  govern- 
ment, is  the  construction  of  dry  docks.  It  is  hardly  ex- 
ceeding the  bounds  of  a  just  discrimination  to  say  that  the 
state  which  possesses  a  fleet  of  twenty  heavy  ships,  with  a 
sufficient  number  of  dry  docks,  is  better  provided  with  the 
means  of  carrying  on  an  active  and  vigorous  naval  war, 
than  the  state  which  may  possess  double  the  number  of 
ships,  and  no  dry  docks.  Indeed,  a  constant  examination 
of  the  copper  of  vessels,  to  say  nothing  of  injuries  received 
in  battle,  is  necessary  to  sailing  well;  and,  as  has  been  said 
already,  a  fleet  composed  of  vessels  of  unequal  qualities,  is 
at  once  reduced  to  the  level  of  its  poorest  ships.  The  great 
extent  of  the  American  coast  requires  an  unusual  provision 
of  this  nature.  Crippled  vessels  are  compelled  to  make  the 
first  port,  and  no  important  naval  station  should  be  without 
at  least  one  dock  capable  of  receiving  any  thing  that  floats. 

The  consideration  of  all  these  subjects,  will  teach  any  re^ 
fleeting  man  how  little  has  yet  been  done  for  this  great  na- 
tional interest,  through  the  agency  of  foresight,  precaution 
and  wisdom,  while  so  much  has  been  done  by  circum- 
stances. "         . . 


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CHAPTER  I. 


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The  empire  of  Great  Britain,  much  the  most  powerful 
state  of  modern  times,  has  been  gradually  and  progressively 
advancing  to  its  present  high  degree  of  maritime  prosperity, 
and  its  actual  condition  ought  to  be  considered  the  result 
of  moral  instead  of  physical  causes,  though  the  latter  is  pro- 
bably the  more  prievalent  opinion.  Notwithstanding  the 
insular  position  of  its  seat  of  authority,  its  naval  ascendency 
is  of  comparatively  recent  date;  Spain,  and  even  the  dimin- 
utive communities  of  Portugal  and  Holland,  manifesting  as 
great,  if  not  a  greater  spirit  of  lofty  nautical  enterprise, 
during  the  century  and  a  half  that  succeeded  the  important 
discovery  of  the  western  hemisphere,  and  that  of  a  passage 
by  sea  to  India.  While  these  three  nations  were  colonizing 
extensively,  and  laying  the  foundations  of  future  states,  the 
seamen  of  England  expended  their  energies  in  predatory  ex- 
peditions that  were  rapacious  in  their  objects  and  piratical 
in  spirit.    Familiar  political  causes,  beyond  a  question,  had 


■^ 


Vol.  I— 4 


ii: 


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38 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


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an  influence  in  bringing  about  these  results;  for,  while  the 
accession  of  the  House  of  Hapsbourg  to  the  throne  of  Spain 
and  the  Indies,  created  a  power  able  to  cope  with  Europe, 
as  it  then  existed,  England,  driven  entirely  from  her  conti- 
nental possessions,  had  Scotland  for  a  troublesome  neigh- 
bour, and  Ireland  for  a  discontented  and  turbulent  sub- 
ject, to  check  her  efforts  abroad.  It  is  probable,  too,  that 
the  civil  contests,  in  which  England  was  so  long  engaged, 
had  a  serious  effect  on  her  naval  advancement,  and  the 
struggle  that  succeeded  the  dethronement  of  the  family  of 
Stuart,  could  not  fail  to  lessen  exertions  that  were  directed 
to  interests  without  the  territory  more  immediately  in  dis- 
pute. As  a  consequence  of  all  these  causes,  or  of  that  por- 
tion of  them  which  was  in  existence  at  the  commencement 
of  the  seventeenth  century,  when  England  seriously  com- 
menced the  business  of  colonization,  Spain,  France  and 
Portugal  were  already  in  possession  of  what  were  then  con- 
sidered the  most  favourable  regions  on  the  American  con- 
tinent When,  indeed,  the  experiment  was  finally  and 
successfully  made,  individual  enterprise,  rather  than  that 
of  the  government,  achieved  the  object;  and  for  many  years 
the  power  of  the  crown  was  exercised  with  no  other  aim 
than  to  afford  an  ill-regulated,  and  frequently  an  insufficient 
protection.  It  was  Englishmen,  and  not  England,  that 
founded  the  country  which  is  now  known  as  the  United 
States  of  America. 

It  would  exceed  the  proper  bounds  of  a  work  of  this 
nature,  were  we  to  enter  into  a  detailed  account  of  the 
events  connected  with  the  settlements  in  Virginia  and  Mas- 
sachusetts. The  first  permanent  establishment  was  made 
in  the  former  colony,  during  the  year  1607,  and  that  at 
Plymouth  followed  in  1620.  Nothing  could  be  less  alike 
than  the  motives  which  influenced  the  adventurers  in  these 
two  enterprises,  out  of  which  has  virtually  arisen,  within 


■** 


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ir  ITAVAL  HISTORY. 

the  short  space  of  little  more  than  two  centuries,  a  Republic 
that  has  already  taken  its  place  among  the  great  powers  of 
Christendom,  and  which  has  only  to  be  true  to  itself  and  to 
its  predominant  principles,  to  stand  foremost  in  the  ranks  of 
nations.    Those  who  cast  their  fortunes  on  the  fertile  shores 
of  the  waters  of  the  Chesapeake  sought  worldly  advance- 
ment for  themselves,  and  affluence  for  their  posterity,  while 
the  Pilgrims,  as  it  has  become  usual  to  term  the  parent 
stock  of  New  England,  landed  in  quest  of  an  asylum,  where 
they  might  erect  their  altars,  undisturbed  by  the  temporal 
power  that  profaned  the  rites  of  the  church  in  the  old  world. 
Natural  affinities  attracted  like  to  like,  and  for  quite  a  cen- 
tury  the  emigrants  from  Europe  partook  of  the  distinctive 
traits  of  the  original  colonists ;  the  one  portion  of  the  coun- 
try  being  distinguished  for  the  gay  and  reckless  usages  of 
successful  pecuniary  adventure,  and  the  other  for  the  more 
sobered  and  reflecting  habits  of  severe  moral  training,  and 
an  industry  that  was  stimulated  by  necessity  and  tempered 
by  prudence.    The  distinction  did  not  end  here.    If  the  one 
carried  liberality  and  thoughtlessness  to  the  verge  of  indis- 
cretion, the  other  substituted  fanaticism  and  bigotry  for  the 
mild  and  affectionate  tenets  of  Christianity.    It  is  not  easy 
to  say  what  might  have  been  the  consequences  of  the  prox- 
imity of  two  establishments  influenced  by  characters  and 
modes  of  thinking  so  antagonist,  had  not  the  conquest  of 
the  Dutch  territories  of  New  York  bound  them  together, 
by  the  means  of  a  people  who  came  from  England  at  a 
later  day,  and  who  brought  with  them  most  of  the  national 
traits,  less  influenced  by  exaggerations  and  accidents.    The 
result  has  been  an  amalgamation  that  is  fast  wearing  off 
asperities,  and  which  promises,  at  no  distant  period,  to  pro- 
duce a  homogeneity  of  character  that  it  is  not  usual  to  find 
in  any  great  and  numerous  people. 
«  .  The  vessels  employed  in  the  earliest  communications  be- 


•,    -.        *: 


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40 


NAVAL  HISTOBV. 


tween  the  colonies  and  the  mother  country,  were  small, 
varying  from  fifty  to  two  hundred  tons  in  burthen.  The 
expedition  to  Plytnouth  was  first  attempted  in  the  May 
Flower,  a  barque  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  tons,  and  the 
Speedwell  of  sixty  tons ;  but  the  latter  proving  leaky,  after 
twice  returning  to  port  to  refit,  was  abandoned,  and  the 
voyage  w^as  made  in  the  former  vessel  alone.  That  to 
Virginia  under  Newport,  consumed  four  months,  a  delay 
that  was  owing  to  its  steering  south  until  the  trades  were 
struck,  a  practice  which  prevailed  among  most  of  the 
navigators  to  the  new  world,  for  a  long  time  subsequently 
to  the  discoveries  of  Columbus,  who  had  himself  been 
favoured  by  those  constant  winds.  The  May  Flower  sail, 
ed  from  Plymouth,  in  England,  on  the  6th  of  September, 
and,  after  a  stormy  passage,  made  Cape  Cod  on  the  9th  of 
November.  As  it  had  been  the  intention  of  those  on  board 
to  go  further  south,  it  is  probable  that  they  met  with  south- 
west winds  and  currents,  with  a  north-easterly  set,  in  the 
American  seas. 

The  first  conflict  that  took  place  between  the  colonists 
and  any  of  their  civilized  neighbours,  occurred  in  1613, 
when  an  expedition  from  Virginia,  under  the  orders  of 
Capt.  Samuel  Argal,  arriving  on  the  coast  of  Nova  Scotia, 
made  an  attack. on  the  new  French  post  of  St.  Sauveur, 
which  was  reduced  without  difficulty.  Argal  had  eleven 
vessels  with  him,  most  of  which,  however,  were  quite  small, 
and  his  armament  amounted  in  the  whole  to  fourteen  light 
guns.  The  French  were  entirely  without  artillery.  The 
avowed  object  of  this  enterprise  was  fishing,  but  the  arma- 
ment has  induced  a  suspicion  that  the  end  actually  effected 
was  also  kept  in  view.  Whatever  might  have  been  the  inten- 
tion in  fitting  out  the  first  force  under  Cupt.  Argal,  it  is 
quite  certain,  that,  on  his  return  to  Virginia,  he  was  formally 
sent  against  the  French  in  Acadie,  with  three  vessels,  better 


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VAVAL  HISTORY. 


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prepared,  and  that  he  laid  waste  the  whole  of  their  posses* 
sions.  Both  of  these  occurrences  took  place  in  a  time  of 
profound  peace,  and  grew  out  of  a  pretension  in  the  Eng- 
lish, to  the  possession  of  the  whole  coast,  as  far  north  as  the 
46th  degree  of  latitude.  if*:  •'■.    <    ;,^!;' 

On  his  return  to  Virginia,  Capt.  Argal  entered  the  bay  of 
New  York,  and  demanded  possession  of  that  territory  also, 
under  the  plea  that  it  had  been  discovered  by  an  English- 
man. Hendrick  Christaens,  whom  Argal  styled  "a  pre- 
tended Dutch  Governor,"  had  no  force  to  resist  such  a 
claim,  and  was  compelled  to  submit.  On  the  return  to  Vir- 
ginia, one  of  the  three  vessels  employed  in  this  expedition 
was  lost,  and  another  having  been  driven  as  far  east  as  the 
Azores,  prooeeded  to  England,  while  Capt.  Argal  alone  got 
into  the  Chesapeake.  The  prisoners  taken  on  this  occasion 
narrowly  escaped  being  executed  as  pirates ! 

This  was  the  first  warlike  maritime  expedition  attempted 
by  the  American  colonists,  if  a  few  parties  sent  in  boats 
against  the  savages  be  excepted.  The  Dutch  were  not  dis- 
possessed by  the  useless  attempt  on  their  settlement,  which 
appears  to  have  been  viewed  more  as  a  protest  than  a  con- 
quest, for  they  continued  to  increase  and  to  govern  them- 
selves for  near  half  a  century  longer.  The  first  decked 
vessel  built  within  the  old  United  States,  of  which  we  have 
any  account,  was  constructed  by  Schipper  Adrian  Block, 
on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson,  and  probably  within  the  pre- 
sent limits  of  New  York,  during  the  summer  of  1614.  This 
vessel  De  Laet  terms  a  "  yacht,"  and  describes  as  having 
been  of  the  dimensions  of  thirty-eight  feet  keel,  forty-four 
and  a  half  feet  on  deck,  and  eleven  feet  beam.  In  this 
"yacht"  Block  passed  through  Hell  Gate,  into  the  Sound,  and 
steering  eastward,  he  discovered  a  small  island,  which  he 
named  after  himself;  going  as  far  as  Cape  Cod,  by  the  way 
of  the  Vineyard  passage.  ."J   ; 

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'  .V        <» 


'^C^ 


iii!. 


42 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


t   i!< 


According  to  the  same  authority,  the  Dutch  at  New 
Amsterdam,  who  had  constructed  a  fort,  and  reiyiforced 
their  colony,  soon  after  built  many  more  small  vessels, 
sloops  and  periaguas,  opening  a  trade  with  the  savages, 
by  means  of  the  numerous  bays,  sounds,  and  rivers  of  their 
territory. 

It  was  also  in  1614  that  the  celebrated  Capt.  John  Smith 
arrived  from  England,  and  sailed  on  a  coasting  voyage, 
with  the  double  purpose  of  trade  and  discovery.  He  went 
himself  in  a  boat,  having  a  crew  of  only  eight  men,  and  the 
profits,  as  well  as  the  discoveries,  abundantly  rewarded  the 
risks. 

It  may  serve  to  give  the  reader  a  more  accurate  idea  of 
the  condition  of  trade  in  this  part  of  the  worlcl*  if  we  state 
that  in  1615  the  English  alone  had  one  hundred  and  seventy 
vessels  engaged  in  the  Newfoundland  fisheries,  while  the 
French,  Portuguese,  and  Spaniards  had  altogether  about 
three  hundred.  v  >        :  " 

Many  attempts  were  made  about  this  time  to  discover  a 
north-west  passage  to  China;  the  well  known  expedition 
in  which  Baffin  was  employed,  occurring  in  1616. 

After  the  settlement  at  Plymouth  the  English  colonies 
began  to  increase  regularly  in  population  and  resources, 
while  the  Dutch,  at  New  York  became  firmly  established. 
The  Swedes  also  commenced  a  settlement  in  the  Delaware, 
and  the  entire  coast,  from  Acadie  to  North  Carolina,  was 
more  or  less  occupied,  from  point  to  point.  There  was  a 
good  ileal  of  trade  with  the  Indians,  with  whom  wampum 
was  exchanged  against  peltries.  As  early  as  in  1629  the 
New  England  Company  employed  five  ships  of  respectable 
size,  in  the  trado  with  the  colonv.  Most  of  these  vessels 
were  armed,  and  all  took  colonists  in  their  outward  pass- 
ages. The  May  Flower  appears  to  have  been  retained  in 
this  business  for  many  years,  after  her  first  voyage.    A 


SM. 


■3t|Kt, 


•-<';. 


* , 


■^■. 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  48^ 

small  ship  was  built  at  or  near  Boston,  in  1633,  which  was 
one  of  the  first  vessels,  if  not  the  first  vessel  of  any  size,  con- 
structed in  New  England.  But  the  progress  of  the  colony 
of  Massachusetts-Bay,  in  navigation,  was  so  rapid,  that  in 
1639  laws  were  passed  to  encourage  the  fisheries,  which 
may  be  considered  as  the  elementary  school  of  American 
nautical  enterprise.  The  fishetmen  during  the  season,  and 
the  shipwrights  at  all  times,  were  exempted  from  military 
duty,  a  great  privilege  in  an  infant  community  that  was 
surrounded  by  savages.  Among  those  who  gave  an  im- 
pulse to  trade  and  navigation  in  this  colony,  was  the  cele- 
brated Hugh  Peters,  subsequently  executed  for  treason  in 
England,  who  actually  caused  a  vessel  of  three  hundred 
tons  burthen  jto  be  constructed  at  Salem,  in  1641. 

Within  twenty  years  after  the  settlement  of  Plymouth, 
ship-building  and  navigation  began  to  occupy  much  of  the 
attention  of  New  England,  and  as  every  vessel  of  any  size 
carried  many  light  guns,  the  navigation  of  the  period  had 
most  of  the  characteristics  of  an  armed  trade.  In  addition 
to  the  ships  and  barks  that  crossed  tlie  ocean,  many  decked 
boats,  or  small  sloops,  were  used  on  the  coast,  especially  by 
those  who  dealt  with  the  Indians  for  skins.  The  first  engage- 
ment that  probably  eVgr  occurred  between  inhabitants  of 
the  American  colonies,  and  enemies  afloat^  was  a  conflict 
between  John  Gallop,  who  was  engaged  in  a  trade  of  this 
nature,  in  a  sloop  of  twenty  tons,  and  some  Narragansett 
Indians,  who  had  seized  upon  a  small  vessel  belonging  to  a 
person  of  the  name  of  Oldham,  known  to  have  been  simi- 
larly occupied.  As  this,  in  a  certain  sense,  may  be  deemed 
the  earliest  sea-fight  of  the  nation,  we  consider  it  worthy 
to  be  related. 

Some  time  in  May,  1636,  Gallop,  in  his  little  sloop,  manned 
by  two  men  and  two  boys,  himself  included,  was  standing 
along  the  Sound,  near  Plum  Island,  when  he  was  compelled 


\ 


'% 


44 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


fr.\. 


to  bear  up  by  stress  of  weather,  for  a  refuge,  to  leeward, 
among  the  islands  that  form  a  chain  between  Long 
Island  and  Connecticut.  On  nearing  the  land,  he  discovered 
a  vessel  very  similar  to  his  own,  in  size  and  equipments, 
which  was  immediately  recognised  as  the  pinnace  of  Mr. 
^  Oldham,  who  had  sailed  with  a  crew  of  two  white  boys 
4  \: '  and  two  Narragansett  Indians.  Gallop  hailed  on  nearing 
the  othp '  craft,  but  got  no  answer,  and,  on  running  still 

l^         nearer,  no  less  than  fourteen  Indians  were  discovered  lying 

p.  on  her  deck.   A  canoe,  conveying  goods,  and  manned  by  In- 

dians, had  also  just  started  for  the  shore.  Gallop  now  began 
*'■  to  suspect  that  Oldham  had  been  overpowered  by  the  sa- 
vages; a  suspicion  that  was  confirmed  by, the  Indians  slip- 
ping their  cable,  and  running  off  before  the  wind,  or  in  the 
direction  of  Narragansett-Bay.  Satisfied  that  a  robbery 
had  been  committed,  Gallop  made  sail  in  chase,  and  run- 
ning alongside  of  the  pinnace,  in  a  spirited  manner,  he  fired 

ll^^  a  volley  of  duck-shot  at  the  savages.  The  latter  had  swords, 

spears,  and  some  fire-arms,  and  they  attempted  a  resistance, 
but  Gallop  soon  drove  them  below  to  a  man.  Afiaid  to 
board  in  the  face  of  such  odds,  Gallop  now  had  recourse  to 

kT  a  novel  expedient  to  dislodge  his  enemies.     As  the  pinnace 

was  drifting  with  no  one  to  manage  her,  she  soon  fell  to 
leeward,  while  the  sloop  hauled  by  the  wind.  As  soon  as 
the  two  vessels  were  far  enough  asunder,  Gallop  put  his 
helm  up,  and  ran  directly  down  on  the  weather  quarter  of 
the  pinnace,  striking  her  with  so  much  violence  as  to  come 
near  forcing  her  over  on  her  side.    The  shock  so  much 

,^  alarmed  the  Indians,  who  were  on  an  element  and  in  a  craft 

they  did  not  understand,  that  six  of  them  rushed  frantically 
on  deck,  and  leaped  into  the  sea,  where  they  were  all 
drowned.  The  sloop  again  hauled  off,  when  Gallop  lashed 
an  anchor  to  her  bows  in  such  a  manner,  that  by  running 
down  on  the  pinnace  a  second  time,  he  forced  the  flukes 


i 


',* ' 


••r^'t^l. 


\  s 


,     k 


:>»:■ 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


45 


through  the  sides  of  the  latter,  which  are  represented  as 
having  been  made  of  boards.  Th**  ♦wo  vessels  were  now 
fast  to  each  other,  and  the  crew  ot  the  sloop  began  to  fire 
ihrough  the  sides  of  the  pinnace,  into  her  hold.  Finding  it 
impossible,  however,  to  drive  his  enemies  up,  Gallop  loosen- 
ed his  fasts,  and  hauled  up  to  windward  a  third  time,  when 
four  or  five  more  of  the  Indians  jumped  overboard  and 
shared  the  fate  of  those  who  had  preceded  them.  One 
Indian  now  appeared  on  deck  and  offered  to  submit.  Gallop 
ran  alongside,  and  received  this  man  in  the  sloop,  when  he 
was  bound  hands  and  feet,  and  put  into  the  hold.  Another 
soon  followed  this  example,  and  he  was  also  received  on 
board  the  sloop  and  bound,  but,  fearful  that  if  two  of  his 
wily  foes  were  permitted  to  commune  together,  they  would 
liberate  themselves,  the  second  prisoner  was  thrown  into 
the  sea.  But  two  Indians  now  remained  in  the  pinnace. 
They  had  got  into  a  small  apartment  below,  and  being 
armed,  they  showed  a  disposition  to  defend  themselves, 
when  Gallop  removed  all  the  goods  that  remained  into  his 
own  sloop,  stripped  the  pinnace  of  her  sails,  took  her  in  tow, 
and  hauled  up  for  the  islands  again.  But  the  wind  increas- 
ing, the  pinnace  was  cut  adrift,  and  she  disappeared  in  the 
direction  of  Narragansett  Bay,  where  it  is  probable  she  was 
stranded  in  the  course  of  a  few  hours. 

On  board  the  pinnace.  Gallop  found  the  body  of  Mr.  Old- 
ham. The  head  had  been  cleft,  the  hands  and  legs  were 
much  mangled,  and  the  flesh  was  still  warm.  The  corpse 
was  thrown  into  the  sea. 

Thus  terminated  this  extraordinary  conflict,  in  which 
Gallop  appears  to  have  shown  as  much  conduct  as  cou- 
rage, and  which  in  itself  illustrates  the  vast  superiority  that 
professional  skill  gives  on  an  element  that  requires  practice 
to  be  rendered  successfully  available.  As  it  was  of  the 
last  importance  to  create  a  respect  for  the  English  name, 
that  might  protect  small  parties  while  trading  with  the  sa- 


#. 


'« 


%.^# 


«    • 


46 


NAVAL  HISTORV. 


C 


^' 


vages,  the  report  of  the  conqueror  on  this  occasion  induced 
the  government  of  Massachusetts  to  send  an  expedition 
against  the  offenders,  under  Mr.  Endecott,  one  of  the  assist- 
ants, which  did  the  Indians  much  injury  in  the  destruction 
of  their  dwellings  and  crops,  though  the  savages  themselves 
took  to  flight.  This  expedition,  however,  was  followed  up 
by  others  that  met  with  greater  success. 

The  French  in  Acadie,  also,  gave  rise  to  two  or  three 
unimportant  armaments,  which  led  to  no  results  worthy  of 
being  recorded. 

Notwithstanding  the  frequency  of  the  Indian  conflicts, 
and  the  repeated  visits  to  the  settlements  of  the  French,  the 
first  regular  cruisers  employed  by  the  American  colonists 
tippear  to  have  owed  their  existence  to  misunderstandings 
with  the  Dutch  of  the  New  Netherlands.  The  colony  of 
New  Haven  had  so  far  increased  as  to  cause  a  vessel  of  one 
hundred  and  fifty  tons  to  be  built  in  Rhode  Island,  as  early 
as  the  year  1646,  but  this  ship  was  lost  at  sea  on  her  first  pas- 
sage. Shortly  after,  a  small  cruiser,  carrying  ten  guns,  and 
forty  men,  was  employed  by  the  united  colonies  of  Hartford 
and  New  Haven,  to  cruise  in  Long  Island  Sound,  with  a 
view  to  prevent  the  encroachments  of  the  Dutch,  and  to 
keep  open  the  communication  with  the  settlements  they  had 
made  on  the  opposite  shore.  In  1654,  orders  were  received 
from  Parliament  to  treat  the  Dutch  as  enemies,  but  both 
communities  were  still  too  young  and  feeble  to  engage  in  a 
warfare  that  was  not  considered  of  paramount  necessity. 
Nothing  eflective  appears  to  have  been  done  under  these 
instructions. 

At  a  later  day,  or  in  1665-6,  Connecticut  kept  another 
small  vessel  cruising  off"  Watch-Hill,  in  order  to  prevent  the 
Narragansett  Indians  from  crossing  to  attack  the  Montauk 
tribe,  which  had  been  taken  under  the  protection  of  the 
colony.  ^         , 

In  1645,  a  ship  of  some  size  was  built  at  Cambridge, 


I-M 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


47 


J$, 


Mossachusetts,  and  receiving  an  armament  of  fourteen  guns, 
and  a  crew  of  thirty  men,  she  sailed  for  the  Canary  Isles. 
This  vessel  fell  in  with  a  rover,  supposed  to  belong  to  Bar* 
bary,  of  twenty  guns,  and  seventy  men,  when  an  action  took 
place  that  continued  the  entire  day.  The  rover  receiving 
some  serious  injury  to  her  rudder,  the  New  England  ship 
was  enabled  to  escape.  Although  the  conflict  between  Gal- 
lop and  the  Narragansetts  is,  in  one  sense,  entitled  to  the 
precedency,  this  action  may  be  set  down  as  the  first  regular 
naval  combat  in  which  any  American  vessel  is  known  to 
have  been  engaged.  '    • 

An  important  change  occurred,  in  1664,  in  the  situation 
of  the  American  colonies,  by  the  capture  of  New  Nether- 
lands from  the  Dutch.  The  vessels  employed  on  this  ser- 
vice were  under  the  orders  of  Sir  Robert  Carr,  while  Colo- 
nel Richard  Nicoll  commanded  the  troops.  No  resistance 
was  made.  In  consequence  of  this  accession  of  territory, 
and  the  submission  of  the  Swedish  settlements  on  the  Dela- 
ware, the  English  colonies  now  had  entire  possession  of  the 
coast,  between  the  Bay  of  Fundy  and  the  Floridas.  It  had 
been  computed,  in  1660,  that  the  English  settlements  con- 
tained about  eighty  thousand  souls,  and  this  increase  of 
numbers  now  made  a  total  of  more  than  one  hundred  thou- 
sand inhabitants  of  European  extraction.  New  England 
paid  the  most  attention  to  navigation,  however ;  and  it  ap- 
pears by  Hutchinson,  that  in  1676,  or  just  a  century  before 
the  declaration  of  independence,  the  following  vessels  had 
been  constructed  in  Boston,  or  its  vicinity,  and  then  belong- 
ed to  the  ports  of  that  neighbourhood,  viz : 

.-?r^       30  vessels  between  100  and  250  tons.  ;'•" 

200  vessels  between  50  and  :00  tons.  '^'' 

200  vessels  between  30  and  60  tons. 
300  vessels  between  6  and  10  tons. 
Most  of  the  small  vessels  were  employed  in  the  fisheries. 


►.*; 


(h^ 


'^ 


'  M  , 


■^ 


46 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


•*• 


and  the  ordinary  communications  between  the  settlements 
on  the  coast  were  kept  up  by  water.  The  principal  build- 
ing stations  were  Boston,  Charlestown,  Salem,  Ipswich, 
Salisbury,  and  Portsmouth,  and  there  were  at  that  early 
day,  even,  thirty  master  shipwrights. 

While  the  English  were  thus  occupying  the  coast,  the 
French  were  gradually  extending  themselves  along  the 
chain  of  Great  Lakes  in  the  interior,  drawing  a  belt  around 
the  territories  of  their  rivals.  In  the  course  of  events  of 
this  nature,  de  la  Salle  launched  a  vessel  of  ten  tons  on 
Lake  Ontario,  in  1078,  which  was  the  first  decked  boat  that 
ever  sailed  on  those  waters.  The  following  year,  he  caused 
a  vessel  of  sixty  tons  to  be  launched  on  Lake  Erie.* 

In  1080,  according  to  Trumbull,  Connecticut  possessed 
twenty-four  vessels,  with  a  total  of  1050  tons,  trading  be- 
tween that  colony  and  Boston,  Newfoundland,  the  West 
Indies,  &c.  &c.  The  succeeding  year,  ibrty-nine  vessels 
entered  the  harbour  of  Portsmouth  alone.  The  well  known 
navigation  act,  a  law  to  confine  the  carrying  trade  to  Eng- 
lish ships,  had  been  passed  as  early  as  1051,  but  it  had  been 
little  regarded  by  the  colonists;  and  this  year  Edmund 
Randolph  came  a  second  time  to  Boston,  where  he  made  a 
vigorous  but  unsuccessful  effort  to  enforce  the  obnoxious  sta- 
tute. In  Massachusetts,  in  particular,  this  law  had  been 
almost  a  dead  letter  from  the  first,  though  the  Dutch  in 
New  Netherlands  had  thought  it  necessary  to  insert  a 
clause  in  their  articles  of  capitulation,  to  permit  them  to 
trade  with  Holland  for  six  months  after  the  surrender. 

The  buccaneers  began  to  commit  depredations  in  the 
American  seas,  about  the  year  1000;  and  piracies  on  a 
smaller   scale,  were   not   infrequent   at  a  much  earlier 

,  *     ■      •  The  seeo.id  vessel  is  differently  stated  to  have  been  of  ten  and  of  sixty 
torn.    We  have  chosen  what  has  appeared  to  be  the  best  authority. 


V 


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Vfit?- 


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la 
jr 


*'r44 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


41) 


day.  These  buccaneers  were  originally,  mere  outlaws  in 
the  West  India  Islands.  Compelled  at  length  to  unite,  they 
assembled  at  the  Tortugas,  and  began  to  plunder  such  ves- 
sels as  approached  the  shore;  most  of  their  robberies  being 
committed  "by  means  of  open  boats.  The  Spanish  vessels, 
in  particular,  became  the  objects  of  their  assaults;  and  en- 
couraged by  success,  they  began  to  venture  farther  from  the 
land.  Their  numbers  rapidly  increased,  and  ere  long  they 
ventured  to  make  descents  on  the  coasts,  more  especially  on 
those  of  the  Spanish  settlements,  in  quest  of  plunder.  It  is  a 
mark  of  the  peculiar  character  of  the  age,  that  these  free- 
booters often  commenced  their  enterprises  with  prayer ! — 
They  spent  their  ill-gotten  wealth  as  profligately  as  it  had 
been  obtained,  and  like  more  powerful  bodies  of  men,  were 
finally  destroyed  by  the  excesses  engendered  by  their  own 
prosperity. 

We  do  not  know  that  there  is  authority  for  believing 
these  freebooters  ever  had  any  material  connexion  with  the 
English  continental  possessions,  though  Jamaica,  at  one  pe- 
riod, was  thronged  by  them.  There  are,  however,  too  many 
traditions  on  the  coast,  not  to  suspect  that  some  of  the  ex- 
cesses, to  which  the  loose  condition  of  the  western  world 
gave  rise,  were  less  ostentatiously  committed  by  those  who 
irequcnted  the  country.  The  same  odium  was  not  then  at- 
tached to  piratical  acts,  as  in  our  own  times;  and  what  even 
we  ourselves  have  seen  done  on  the  land,  by  men  styled 
heroes,  was  then  committed  on  the  water,  almost  without 
comment. 

The  first  authentic  account  we  possess  of  a  regular  at- 
tempt to  suppress  piracy  on  the  American  coast,  is  found  in 
Winthrop's  Journal,  and  it  occurred  as  early  as  in  the  year 
1632.  A  bark  of  thirty  tons  burthen  had  been  launched  the 
year  previous,  at  Mislick,  which  was  called  the  Blessing  of 
the  Bay,  and  which  was  converted  into  a  cruiser  for  the  oc- 

VoL.  I.— 5 


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!#*#»' 


VAVAL  HISTORY. 


casion  to  which  we  allude.  Information  had  reached  the  go- 
vernment of  the  colony  that  one  David  Bull,  who  had  fifteen 
more  Englishmen  with  hifn,  had  committed  divers  acts  of 
piracy  among  the  fishermen  at  the  eastward,  and  that  he 
also  had  plundered  a  settlement  on  shore.    This  expedition, 
however,  was  suspended  in  consequence  of  intelligence 
having  been  received  that  the  people  of  the  coast  had  manned 
several  pinnaces  and  shallops,  and  gone  in  quest  of  the  ma- 
rauders themselves.    Several  months  elapsed  before  any 
thing  conclusive  could  be  ascertained  concerning  Bull  and 
his  party,  and  in  January,  1633,  another  fruitless  expedition, 
that  had  been  sent  after  them,  returned,  as  did  a  third  in 
May.    One  of  the  proofs  of  a  lawless  disposition  adduced 
against  Bull,  is  to  be  found  in  a  report  of  his  conduct, 
wherein  it  is  stated  that,  at  the  hour  when  the  people  of 
other  ships  wore  accustomed  to  assemble  for  prayer,  his  fol- 
lowers would  meet  on  deck,  to  sing  songs  and  utter  sense- 
less phrases.     It  is  probable  that  this  party  was  composed 
of  fur-traders  from  Virginia,  and  that  their  conduct  appear- 
ed to  the  puritans  of  the  east  so  light,  in  general,  that  some 
trifling  excesses  were  misconstrued  into  piracy. 

Another  insignificant  affair  that  occurred  at  the  New 
Netherlands  was  turned  into  piracy;  a  Capt.  Stone  having 
been  seized,  and  bound  over  to  appear  at  the  Admiralty 
Court  in  England;  but  the  proceedings  were  dropped  in 
consequence  of  the  belief  that  the  whole  transaction  would 
turn  out  to  be  little  more  than  a  mere  assault.  This  oc- 
curred also  in  1633 ;  and  there  is  some  reason  to  believe 
that  the  exaggerations  of  the  puritans  had  misled  them, 
from  the  fi\ct  that  this  Capt.  Stone  was  arrested  for  adultery 
before  he  left  the  colony,  and  that  the  grand  jury  returned 
the  bill  ignoramus. 

It  appears  by  the  Journal  of  Governor  Winthrop,  that  in 
1642,  one  Edward  Bedall,  of  Boston,  used  the  Diving  Beii, 


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NAVAL  mSTORV. 


51   * 


to  weigh  a  vessel  called  the  Mary  Rose,  which  had  sunk 
the  previous  year.  Bedall  made  use  of  two  tubs,  **  upon 
which  were  hanged  so  many  weights  (GOO  lbs.)  as  would 
sink  them  to  the  ground."  The  experiment  succeeded 
perfectly,  and  the  guns,  ballast,  goods,  hull,  &c.,  were  all 
transported  into  shoal  water,  and  recovered.  The  first 
instance  of  a  diving  bell's  being  used,  was  at  Cadiz,  we 
believe,  in  the  presence  of  Charles  Vth;  the  notion,  so  pre- 
valent in  this  country,  that  it  was  an  invention  of  Sir 
William  Phipps',  being  an  error. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  seventeenth  century,  the  ship- 
ping of  the  American  c6lonies  had  so  far  increased,  as  to 
supply  the  mother  country  with  many  transports,  and  to  con- 
duct no  small  part  of  the  trade  between  the  t^vo  great  divi- 
sions of  the  empire.  The  Whale  Fishery  at  Nantucket, 
appears  to  have  been  established  in  1690 ;  and  in  1606,  it 
is  said  that  the  ship{>ing  of  New  York  amounted  to  40 
square  rigged  vessels,  62  sloops,  and  60  boats. 

In  consequence  of  the  great  number  of  privateers  that 
sailed  out  of  Acadie,  the  general  court  of  Massachusetts 
sent  an  expedition  against  Port  Royal,  in  1600.  The  forces 
were  commanded  by  Sir  William  Phipps,  and  amounted 
to  between  700  and  800  men,  who  were  embarked  in 
eight  small  vessels.  This  expedition  sailed  on  the  28th 
of  April,  and  returned  on  the  30th  of  May,  having  been  suc- 
cessful. The  good  fortune  that  attended  this  enterprise,  in- 
duced the  government  of  Massachusetts  to  attempt  another 
against  a  place  as  important  as  Quebec.  Sir  William  Phipps* 


•  Sir  William  Phipps  was  bom  at  Pemaquid,  in  1650.  Until  eighteen 
years  of  age,  he  was  principally  employed  in  agricultural  pursuits,  and 
subsequently  he  was  apprenticed  to  a  ship-wright.  When  of  age,  he 
built  a  ship  at  Sheepscote;  he  afterwards  followed  the  sea,  and  hearing 
of  a  Spanish  wreck  near  the  Bahamas,  he  gave  such  accounts  of  it  in 


':••« 


I; 


S 


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1^ 


<>..-! 


,    .  :      -*^ 


52 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


7i 


again  commanded,  having  between  30  and  40  vessels, 
the  largest  of  which  was  of  44  guns  and  200  men,  and  the 
whole  number  of  the  troops  and  seamen  employed  was 
about  2000.  These  forces  reached  Quebec  October  the  5th, 
1690,  and  landed  October  the  8th.  The  force  disembarked 
was  about  12  or  1300  men,  but  it  was  repulsed  without 
much  fighting.  On  their  return  to  Boston,  the  ships  were 
dispersed  by,  a  gale,  and  little  credit  was  gained  by  the 
undertaking. 

The  Falkland,  a  fourth  rate,  was  launched  in  the  Piscata- 
qua,  in  1690,  and  was  the  first  ship  of  the  line  ever  built  in 
America.  " 

Much  alarm  existed  along  the  American  coast,  about  this 
time,  from  an  apprehension  of  the  French,  who  were  un- 

England,  that  be  was  sent  out  with  a  frigate,  .to  obtain  its  treasure.  In 
this  affair,  he  was  unsuccessfuL  The  Duke  of  Albermale,  however,  sent 
him  out  a  second  time,  (1687,)  when  be  brought  home  near  £300,000,  of 
which  his  own  share  amounted  to  £16,000.  This  transaction  brought 
him  into  notice,  and  he  was  Knighted  by  James  II.  He  had  been 
made  High  Sheriff  of  New  England  previously,  and  he  was  made  Gover- 
nor of  his  native  colony  in  1691)  but  having  had  a  quarrel  in  1693,  with 
a  Capt.  Short,  of  the  Nonsuch  frigate,  about  the  extent  of  his  Vice  Admi- 
ralty jurisdiction,  he  had-that  officer  arrested  and  sent  to  England.  On 
the  representation  of  Capt.  Short,  the  Governor  was  summoned  to 
Eogland  in  person,  to  answer  for  his  conduct  in  this  affair,  and  having  jus- 
tified himself,  he  was  about  to  return  to  his  government,  when  he  was 
seized  with  a  malignant  fever,  and  died  in  London.  Some  accounts  place 
his  death  in  1694,  and  others  in  1695 ;  we  believe  the  latter  to  be  the 
most  correct.  He  is  said  to  have  been  honest,  well-meaiup^  and  reli- 
gious, though  passionate  and  imperious.  He  was  uneducated  of  course, 
not  knowing  how  to  read  and  write,  until  he  had  become  a  man;  but  ac- 
quaintance with  the  world,  considerable  native  abilities,  and  a  restless  en- 
terprise had  early  brought  him  into  conspicuous  stations,  where  he  usually 
acquitted  himself  with  credit.  The  popular  American  opinion,  that  the 
Mulgrave  family,  of  which  the  present  head  is  the  Marquess  of  Normanby, 
is  descended  from  Sir  William  Phipps,  is  a  mistake. 


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derstood  to  be  cruising  in  those  seas.  We  learn,  indeed, 
from  the  whole  history  of  that  period,  how  nearly  balanced 
were  the  naval  powers  of  Europe,  England,  France,  Spain 
and  Holland,  all  standing  in  awe  of  each  other,  on  the 
high  seas.  '  '      ,     ^      '    v^  '  , 


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64 


KAVAI.  HISTOEY. 


CHAPTER  II. 


\ 


^. 


The  close  of  the  seventeenth  century  found  the  Ameri- 
can coast,  in  a  great  measure,  occupied  from  the  Bay  of 
Fundy  to  the  Savannah  river.  The  war,  which  terminated 
with  the  peace  of  Ryswick,  had  greatly  alarmed  the  colo- 
nists, and  many  small  cruisers  and  galleys  had  been  built  and 
armed,  at  different  ports,  principally  with  a  view  to  cruise 
against  the  privateers  that  sailed  out  of  Acadie  and  the 
West  Indies,  but  no  action  appears  to  have  occurred  at 
sea.  The  two  expeditions  of  Sir  William  Phipps,  were  the 
most  important  military  operations  that  had  then  taken 
place  in  the  colonies,  if  the  Indian  wars  be  excepted ;  and 
they  led  to  nothing  worthy  of  commemoration,  in  a  naval 
point  of  view.  The  royal  cruisers  that  occasionally  ap- 
peared in  the  American  seas,  at  that  remote  period,  were 
usually  light  frigates,  of  a  class  between  the  present  sloops 
and  two-and-thirties,  and  in  point  of  armament,  and  even 
size,  were  probably  unequal  to  contending  with  the  largest 
of  the  former.  We  have  seen  that  one  of  Sir  William 
Phipps'  ships,  in  the  expedition  against  Quebec,  carried  44 
guns  and  200  men,  a  disproportion  between  the  crew  and 
the  armament,  that  proves  the  latter  to  have  been  exceed- 
ingly light.  In  that  age,  the  importance  of  metal  was  not 
appreciated ;  and  the  decks  of  vessels  were  crowded  with 


1  I 


I 


-.&/.: 


'      •?: 


I       \ 


s 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


ff|»< 


^' 


guns,  which  did  so  little  execution,  that  great  naval  battles 
frequently  continued  days  at  a  time,  without  producing 
decisive  results. 

The  close  of  the  sevent'^enth  century  was  also  the  period 
when  the  piracies  had  got  to  be  the  most  serious,  and  when 
Kidd  was  guilty  of  those  acts  that  have  since  given  him  a 
notoriety  that  would  seem  to  be  altogether  disproportioned 
to  his  deeds.  During  the  wars  of  that  day,  the  seas  had 
been  much  infested  with  a  species  of  privateers,  that  often 
committed  aggressions,  and  even  piracies,  on  neutral  ves- 
sels. Most  of  these  rovers  were  English ;  and  it  is  said 
that  they  sombtime*;  plundered  their  own  countrymen.  New 
York  was  not  entirely  exempt  from  the  suspicion  of  having 
equipped  several  vessels  of  this  description,  and  very  un- 
pleasant surmises  affected  the  characters  of  some  distin- 
guished men  of  the  colony,  the  governor,  Fletcher,  among 
others.  In  appreciating  such  charges,  it  is  necessary  to 
remember  the  character  of  the  age,  there  being  no  disgrace 
attached  to  adventures  in  private  armed  ships,  and  the  tran- 
sition from  fighting  for  plunder,  and  plundering  unlawfully, 
is  very  trifling,  in  remote  seas,  where  testimony  is  not  easily 
obtained,  and  the  law  is  impotent.  That  which  men  can 
practice  with  impunity,  they  are  apt  to  undertake,  when 
tempted  by  cupidity;  and  that  which  is  frequent,  ceases  to 
shock  the  sense  of  right.  It  is  by  no  means  probable  that 
either  Governor  Fletcher,  or  any  distinguished  colonist, 
deliberately  engaged  in  piratical  adventures,  but  it  is  quite 
possible  that  such  men  may  have  been  concerned  in  the 
equipment  of  private  cruisers,  that  subsequently  committed 
acts  that  the  laws  condemned.  It  is  possible,  that  when 
such  vessels  have  returned,  a  rigid  inquiry  into  the  origin 
of  the  plunder  they  brought  with  them,  was  not  always 
made.  Such,  in  some  measure,  was  the  case  with  Kidd, 
whose  subsequent  notoriety  appears  to  have  been  as  much 


■i 


V 


TT  ' 


r*- 


-;*^" 


-*• 


56 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


>  ) 


owing  to  ihe  Scht  with  which  he  sailed,  sanctioned  by- 
government,  and  supported  by  men  of  character,  and  to 
some  striking  incidents  that  accompanied  his  return,  as  to 
any  extraordinary  excesses  as  a  pirate.  The  facts  of  his 
case  appear  to  have  been  as  follows : — 

Much  odium  having  been  cast  on  the  colony  of  New 
York,  in  consequence  of  the  number  of  piracies  that  had 
been  committed  by  rovers  sailing  from  the  port  of  that 
name,  the  government  in  England  deemed  it  necessary 
to  take  serious  measures  to  repress  the  evil.  This  duty 
was  in  particular  confided  to  the  Earl  of  Bellamont,  who  had 
been  appointed  the  governor  of  several  of  the  col(Niies.  Mr. 
Robert  Livingston  happening  to  be  in  England  at  the  time 
when  the  subject  was  under  discussion,  and  being  a  man  of 
influence  in  the  colony  of  New  York,  he  was  conferred 
with,  as  to  the  most  advisable  means  of  putting  an  end  to 
the  practice.  Mr.  Livingston  advised  that  a  cruiser  of  force 
should  be  sent  out  expressly  to  seize  all  lawless  rovers,  and 
he  introduced  to  Lord  Bellamont,  Capt.  Wm.  Kidd,  whom 
he  recommended  as  a  seaman  qualified  to  be  put  at  the 
head  of  such  an  adventure.  Capt.  Kidd  was  said  to  have 
a  knowledge  of  the  pirates,  and  of  their  places  of  resort;  and 
at  the  same  time,  to  be  a  man  on  whose  integrity  and  ser- 
vices full  reliance  might  be  placed.  The  first  proposition 
was  to  employ  a  king^s  ship  of  30  guns  and  150  men  on 
this  service;  but  the  war  requiring  all  the  regular  cruisers, 
it  is  a  proof  of  the  spirit  of  the  times,  that  the  matter  was 
referred  to  private  enterprise,  although  the  sanction  of 
government  was  not  only  promised,  but  obtained.  Mr. 
Livingston  took  one-fifth  of  the  shares,  and  became  the 
usual  security  for  the  lawfulness  of  Kidd's  proceedings. 
The  Lord  Chancellor,  and  several  other  distinguished  noble- 
men, took  shares  in  the  adventure  also,  and  the  crown 
reserved  to  itself  a  tenth  of  the  proceeds,  as  a  proof  that  it 


•  * 


,*•  * 


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ii' 


ift^ 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


57 


approved  of  the  enterprise.  Kidd  received  his  commission 
and  his  orders  from  the  Earl  of  Bellamont,  whom  he  fol- 
lowed to  America  for  that  purpose,  sailing  from  Plymouth 
in  England,  April  1696,  for  New  York.  There  is  much 
reason  for  thinking  that  Capt.  Kidd  was  not  guilty  of  any 
illegal  act  himself,  until  he  found  that  his  more  legitimate 
enterprise  was  not  likely  to  be  successful.  In  the  endy  how- 
ever, he  went  to  tho  *^  st  1.  of  the  Cape  of  Gc :  ^  Hope, 
where  he  certainly  cuminl.  .  piracies,  though  tO  what 
extent  is  now  questionable.  He  was  accused  of  ravaging 
the  sea  between  Madagascar  and  the  coast,  from  Babel- 
mandel  to  Malabar,  and  of  committing  the  usual  excesses, 
though  it  is  probable  that  there  was  much  exdggeration 
mixed  up  with  the  histories  and  rumours  of  the  day.  Some 
accounts  confine  his  piracies  to  a  single  ship,  though  it  is 
more  than  probable  that  he  had  a  disposition  to  the  voca- 
tion, and  that  he  was  easily  diverted  from  the  object  with 
which  he  had  sailed,  even  if  he  did  not  contemplate  piracy 
on  quitting  port.  After  an  absence  of  about  three  years, 
Kidd  returned  to  the  American  coast,  first  appearing  off 
the  east  end  of  Long  Island.  About  thirty  miles  to  the 
westward  of  Montauk,  protected  from  the  ocean  by  the 
southern  branch  of  the  island  just  mentioned,  is  a  capacious 
bay  that  obtains  its  name  from  another  small  island,  which 
is  so  placed  as  to  defend  it  against  the  north-east  gales. 
The  latter  island  contains  about  three  thousand  acres  of 
land,  and  ever  since  the  country  has  been  settled,  or  for  two 
centuries,  it  has  been  the  property  of  an  honourable  family 
of  the  name  of  Gardiner,  which  has  given  its  name  to  both 
the  island  and  the  bay.  The  latter  has  an  anchorage  that 
has  long  been  known  to  seamen,  and  into  Gardiner*s  Bay, 
Kidd  sailed  on  this  occasion.  Anchoring  near  the  island, 
he  landed,  and  buried  some  treasure ;  entrusting  Mr.  Gardi- 
ner with  his  secret,  and  making  the  life  of  the  latter  tho 


:* 


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NAVAL  HISTORY. 


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pledge  of  his  fidelity.  This  effected,  the  pirate  again  sailed, 
and  made  similar  deposits  on  other  parts  of  the  coast. 

After  a  short  interval,  Kidd  paid  and  discharged  his 
crew,  and  it  is  said  burned  his  ship.  He  appeared  in  Bos- 
ton in  1699,  and  was  immediately  seized  by  the  order  of 
Governor  Bellamont.  Among  his  papers  was  found  a 
record,  containing  lists  of  his  several  deposits,  which  it  is 
probable  he  held  in  reserve  for  his  own  share  of  the  booty, 
when  he  had  made  his  peace  with  those  in  power  with  the 
remainder.  The  authorities,  however,  were  inflexible,  and 
commissioners  w^ere  immediately  sent  in  quest  of  the  buried 
booty.  When  these  persons  presented  themselves  to  Mr. 
Gardiner,  as  soon  as  assured  that  Kidd  was  iii  confinement, 
that  gentleman  led  them  to  the  spot  where  the  box  was  con- 
cealed, and  it  was  recovered.  The  papers  of  the  Gardiner 
family  show  that  the  contents  of  the  box  were  bags  of 
gold  dust,  bags  of  gold  bars,  the  latter  to  a  considerable 
amount,  coined  gold  and  silver,  silver  bars,  precious  stones, 
silver  lamps,  &c.,  &c.,  in  all  to  the  amount  of  near  twenty 
thousand  dollars.  Most,  if  not  all,  of  the  other  deposits 
were  also  obtained.  Kidd  was  sent  to  England,  tried  and 
condemned.  He  was  not  executed,  however,  until  May 
the  9th,  1701. 

It  followed,  almost  as  a  matter  of  course,  that  suspicion 
rested  on  those  who  were  concerned  in  sending  Capt.  Kidd 
to  sea.  The  usual  profligacy  of  party  was  exhibited  by  an 
attempt  to  impeach  several  noblemen  concerned  in  the 
afl!air,  and  one  or  two  men  of  note  in  the  colony  of  New 
York  were  also  involved  in  legal  proceedings,  in  conse- 
quence of  these  piracies ;  but  nothing  was  ever  established 
against  any  of  the  accused,  though  Governor  Fletcher  fell 
into  disgrace  at  home.  The  known  fact  that  Kidd  buried 
treasure,  gave  rise  to  rumours  that  he  had  buried  much  that 
was  never  discovered.    With  the  blindness  usual  in  matters 


«; 


\*T. 


:%kiP 


^> 


I 


■^-.: 


^m. 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


"J!»- 


59 


\*,. 


of  this  sort,  it  vias  believed  that  he  secreted  his  gold  in  spots 
that  he  had  probably  never  visited,  and  to  this  day  it  is  not 
an  unfrequent  thing  for  diggings  to  be  made  on  the  coast, 
under  the  influence  of  dreams  that  have  been  occasioned 
by  meditating  on  the  subject,  and  in  the  hope  of  finding 
some  of  the  long  lost  riches. 

The  same  year  that  Kidd  was  sent  to  England,  seven 
pirates  were  executed  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  that 
coast  having  been  much  infested  with  these  robbers. 

In  1701  the  population  of  the  American  colonies  was 
estimated  at  262,000,  while  the  Newfoundland  fisheries 
were  said  to  employ  121  vessels,  2,700  men,  and  nearly 
8,000  tons.        ,   .  •;  *t  -r^r 

Another  war  soon  occurring,  the  troubles  on  the  coast 
were  revived,  and  as  the  colonics  grew  in  importance,  the 
mother  country  not  only  extended  her  care  towards  them,  in 
a  greater  degree,  but  the  people  of  the  provinces  themselves, 
felt  a  disposition  to  participate  more  largely  in  the  struggles. 
Still,  so  little  heed  was  taken  against  the  ordinary  dangers, 
that  the  port  of  New  York,  in  1705,  was  totally  without 
defence,  or  so  nearly  so,  that  a  solitary  French  privateer 
entered  it,  and  caused  the  greatest  consternation.        ^fc^^v 

The  Spaniards,  with  whom  England  was  at  war,  con- 
ceiving that  South  Carolina  properly  belonged  to  the  Flo- 
ridas,  undertook  an  expedition  against  Charleston,  in  1706, 
with  four  ships  of  war  and  a  galley,  commanded  by  a  French 
admiral.  A  commission  of  vice-admiral  was  immediately 
given  to  Lieut.  Col.  Rhett,  a  gentleman  who  possessed  the 
public  confidence.  Mr.  Rhett  hoisted  his  flag  in  the  Crown 
galley,  and  several  ships  that  happened  to  be  in  port,  were 
hastily  manned  and  armed.  In  the  mean  time  the  enemy 
had  arrived  and  surrounded  the  place,  but  meeting  with 
some  repulses  on  shore,  Mr.  Rhett  got  under  way  to  engage 
the  hostile  squadron,  when  the  latter  retired  with  precipita- 


4 


m 


■  ^. 


,>-■  >• 


1 


60 


haval  history. 


tion.    Tlio  Spaniards  arc  said  to  have  lost  near  half  their 
men  in  this  unsuccessful  undertaking. 

Hearing  of  a  large  enemy's  ship  on  the  coast,  a  few  days 
after  the  fleet  had  disappeared,  Mr.  Rhett  went  in  quest  of     «. 
her  with  two  small  vessels,  and  succeeded  in  capturing  her, 
and  in  bringing  in  00  prisoners. 

From  an  early  day  the  possession  of  Port  Royal  in 
Acadie,  appears  to  have  been  a  favourite  object  with  tho 
colonists,  most  probably  from  the  great  interest  they  felt  in 
the  fisheries.  We  have  already  seen  that  expeditions  were 
sent  against  this  place,  in  the  earlier  wars,  while  we  are 
now  to  find  no  less  than  three  undertaken,  with  the  same 
object,  in  the  war  of  1702-12.  The  first  of  these  expeditions 
was  set  on  foot  in  1707,  being  almost  purely  of  colonial 
origin.  It  sailed  in  May,  in  23  transports  and  whale  boats, 
under  the  convoy  of  the  Deptford  man  of  war,  Capt.  Stuck- 
ley,  accompanied  by  the  Province,  galley,  Capt.  Southack. 
This  expedition  effected  nothing.  The  second  attempt  was 
not  made  until  the  year  1709,  when  an  enterprise  on  a 
larger  scale  was  planned.  According  to  Trumbull,  the 
colonies  east  of  Connecticut  were  now  ordered  to  raise 
1,200  men,  for  this  undertaking,  and  to  provide  transports, 
pilots,  and.  provisions  for  three  months,  while  Connecticut 
itself,  and  the  more  southern  provinces  were  to  send  a  force 
of  1,500  men,  by  land,  against  Montreal.  The  maritime 
part  of  the  expedition  was  abandoned,  after  waiting  three 
months  in  the  port  of  Boston  for  the  British  ships  that  were 
to  convoy  it,  and  to  aid  in  subduing  the  place.  The  attack 
on  Montreal  was  also  given  up,  for  want  of  the  expected  ' 
co-operation.  The  third  attempt  was  made  in  1710,  when 
a  Col.  Nicholson,  of  the  English  service,  wns  entrusted  with 
the  command.  On  this  occasion  the  preparations  were 
made  conjointly  by  the  crown  and  ihe  provinces,  the  latter 
furnishing  the  transports  and  several  cruisers.    The  fleet 


t 
■# 


i^. 


'^, 


*t 


■v 

."«?' 


re 
it 


'v* 


It' 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


61 


consisted,  in  all,  of  3tt  sail ;  viz.  three  fuurth'rates,  two  fifth- 
rates,  five  frigates,  a  bomb  ketch,  the  Province,  galley, 
and  34  transports.  In  these  vessels  were  embarked  a  regi- 
ment of  marines,  and  five  regiments  of  provincials.  The 
expedition  sailed  from  Boston  on  the  18th  of  September,  ar- 
rived ofif  Port  Royal  on  the  24th,  and  on  the  Ist  of  October 
the  place  submitted.  Its  name  was  changed  to  Annapolis, 
by  which  appellation  it  is  yet  known.  3timulated  by  this 
success,  a  still  more  important  attempt  was  got  up  in  1711, 
against  the  French  possessions  on  the  banks  of  the  St  Law- 
rence. England  now  appeared  disposed  to  put  forth  her 
power  in  earnest,  and  a  fleet  of  15  sail,  12  of  which  were 
sent  directly  from  England,  and  3  of  which  had  been 
stationed  on  the  coast,  was  put  under  the  orders  of  vice- 
admiral  Sir  Hoveden  Walker,  for  that  purpose.  In  this 
fleet  were  several  ships  of  the  line,  and  it  was  accompanied 
by  40  transports  and  6  store  vessels.  Five  of  the  veteran 
regiments  that  had  served  under  Marlborough,  were  sent 
out  with  the  fleet,  and  two  regiments  raised  in  New  "Eng- 
land being  added  to  them,  the  land  forces  amounted  to 
between  6,000  and  7,000  men. 

After  considerable  delay,  the  fleet  sailed  on  the  30th  of 
July,  1711,  when  the  Governor  of  Massachusetts  ordered  a 
fast  to  be  observed  every  Thursday,  until  the  result  should 
be  known.  On  the  14th  of  August  the  ships  entered  the 
St  Lawrence,  and  on  the  18th  the  admiral,  in  order  to  col- 
lect his  transports,  put  into  the  bay  of  Gasp^.  Here  he 
remained  until  the  20th,  when  the  fleet  proceeded.  On  the 
20th  the  ships  were  off  soundings,  out  oi  sight  of  land,  and 
enveloped  in  a  fog,  with  a  gale  at  E.  S.  £.  The  fleet  now 
brought  to  with  the  ships'  heads  to  the  southward.  Not- 
withstanding this  precaution  it  was  soon  discovered  that 
the  whole  of  them  were  in  imminent  jeopardy  among  the 
rocks,  islands,  and  currents  of  the  north-shore,  which  was, 

Vol.  I.— 6 


>i 


,* 


Ji. 


VP'f 


i 

I-  f 


03 


ITAVAL  HISTORT. 


^ 


moreover,  a  lee  shore.  Some  of  the  veiieli  saved  them* 
selves  by  anchoring,  among  which  was  the  Edgar,  70,  the 
admiral's  own  ship;  but  eight  transports  were  lost,  together 
with  a  thousand  people,  and  the  expedition  was  abandoned 
The  admiral  now  dismissed  the  provincial  troops  and  ves- 
sels,  and  sailed  for  England  with  the  remainder  of  the  fleet. 
These  signal  disasters  led  to  loud  complaints  and  to  bitter 
recriminations  between  the  English  and  the  American 
officers.  To  the  latter  was  attributed  a  fatal  loss  of  time, 
in  raising  their  levies  and  making  other  preparations,  which 
brought  the  expedition  too  late  in  the  season,  and  they  were 
also  accused  of  furnishing  incompetent  pilots.  It  is  proba- 
ble that  the  first  accusation  was  not  without  foundation, 
since  it  has  been  a  known  national  failing  to  defer  all  mili- 
tary preparations  to  the  latest  possible  moment,  since  the 
country  has  been  peopled ;  though  the  last  was  no  doubt 
unmerited,  as  there  could  be  no  motive  for  supplying  any 
other  than  the  best  pifots  that  the  colonies  possessed.  On 
the  part  of  the  Americans,  the  admiral,  and  the  English 
commanders  in  general,  were  snid  to  be  opinionated  and 
indisposed  to  take  advice;  a  charge  quite  as  likely  to  be 
true,  as  it  also  accords  with  national  character,  and  more 
especially  with  the  superciliousness  with  which  the  English 
were  known  to  regard  thw  provincials.  The  admiral  threw 
the  responsibility  of  having  hove-to  the  fleet  on  the  pilots, 
who,an  their  turn,  declared  that  it  was  done  contrary  to. 
their  advice.  Some  French  pilots  are  said,  by  Charlevoix, 
to  have  warned  the  admiral  of  his  danger  also,  but  he 
equally  disregarded  their  information.  It  is  in  favour  of  the 
provincials,  that  none  of  their  own  vessels,  one  small  victual- 
ler excepted,  were  lost,  and  that  the  crew  of  this  victualler 
was  saved.  Many  of  the  pilots  were  sent  to  England  to 
be  examined  before  the  Privy  Council,  but  no  investigation 
into  the  aflair  took  place.    The  loss  of  the  admiral's  pa- 


^" 


# 


.s: 


1 1 

"Hi- 


^ 


KAVAL  HISTORY. 


68 


r  # 


'Ml 


pers  is  thought  to  have  put  an  end  to  the  contemplated  in- 
quiry, the  Edgar  having  been,  blown  up,  by  accident,  at 
Plymouth,  shortly  after  her  return,  by  which  event  400  men 
lost  their  lives;  thus  terminating  a  most  disastrous  expedi- 
tion  by  a  dire  calamity.  It  ought  to  be  mentioned,  that  the 
colonies  met  the  charge  of  delay,  by  showing  that  the 
orders,  to  raise  troops,  and  to  make  the  other  requisite  pre- 
parations, were  received  only  sixteen  days  before  Sir  Hove- 
den  Walker  arrived  in  port  with  his  fleet. 

As  late  as  the  year  1718,  Trumbull  enumerates  the 
shipping  of  Connecticut  at  only  2  brigs,  20  sloop*  and  a 
number  of  smaller  craft.  The  seamen  he  estimates  at  120! 
On  the  other  hand,  the  commerce  of  Massachusetts,  as  ap- 
pears by  the  Custom-house  returns,  taken  between  the 
years  1714  and  1717,  employed  25,406  tons  of  shipping, 
402  vessels,  and  8403  sea-faring  persons.  The  first  schooner, 
a  description  of  vessel  now  so  much  in  use  in  America  as 
almost  to  be  deemed  national,  is  said  to  have  been  built  at 
Cape  Ann,  by  Captain  Henry  Robinson,  in  1714.  Her 
name  has  been  unfortunately  lost. 

The  pirates  rather  increased  than  diminished  after  the 
peace  of  1718,  frequenting  the  American  coast  much  more 
than  had  been  their  practice  in  the  preceding  century. 
They  had  reached  to  New  Providence,  whence  they  pro- 
ceeded both  north  and  south,  in  their  predatory  excursions. 
Samuel  Bellamy,  in  the  ship  Whidah,  of  28  guns  and  180 
men,  was  one  of  the  most  formidable  of  these  T  n'^hooters, 
and  he  even  had  the  audacity  to  come  off  the  cou:.  of  New 
England,  in  1717,  where  he  made  several  prizes.  At  length 
he  was  wrecked,  with  his  captured  vesselr,  on  Cape  Cod, 
and  most  of  the  gang  were  lost.  More  than  a  hundred 
bodies  washed  ashore,  and  six  of  those  who  escaped  were 
seized,  tried  at  Boston  and  exe?.uted.  The  following  year, 
the  celebrated  Captain  Woods  Rogers,  so  well  known  for 


#^ 


^> 


Mf^'- 


m. 


I*: 


*• 


,; 


64 


<' 


4 


■•% 


•  y    ,\ 


NAVAL  'HISTORY. 


his  exploits  on  the  Spanish  Main,  was  sent  against  New 
Providence,  with  a  small  squadron  of  King's  ships,  carrying 
a  proclamation  of  pardon  to  all  those  who  would  abandon 
their  lawless  practices,  and  return  to  honest  industry.  The 
island  was  captured  without  resistance,  and  possession  taken 
for  the  English  crown.  Most  of  the  freebooters  accepted 
of  the  amnesty,  though  a  party  of  ninety,  under  the  com- 
mand of  one  Yane,  seized  a  sloop,  and  made  their  escape. 
One  gang,  about  thirty  in  number,  repaired  to  the  coast  of 
the  Carolinas,  where  they  established  themselves  near  the 
mouth  of  Cape  Fear  River,  and  continued  their  depreda- 
tions. Mr.  Wm.  Rhett,  who  has  already  been  mentioned 
for  his  gallantry  and  enterprise,  was  sent  out  against  them 
by  Governor  Johnson  of  North  Carolina,  in  a  vessel  of  some 
force.  This  officer  captured  a  sloop  commanded  by  Steed 
Bonnet,  and  manned  by  thirty  of  the  freebooters.  Shortly 
after,  the  Governor  himself  went  in  person  against  the  re- 
mainder, and  falling  in  with  another  sloop,  a  desperate  en- 
gagement took  place,  in  which,  it  would  seem,  it  was  the 
intention  not  to  give  quarter,  as  nearly  all  in  the  sloop  were 
slain.  Those  who  escaped  death  in  the  action,  were  imme- 
diately tried,  and,  with  the  exception  of  one  man,  hanged. 
These  severe  blows  did  much  towards  clearing  the  coast  of 
freebooters,  though  we  find  that  a  gang  of  twenty-five  more 
were  taken  into  Rhode  Island  in  1723,  by  a  British  sloop  of 
war,  and  sentenced  to  be  hanged.  How  many  were  exe- 
cuted, is  not  known. 

The  peculiar  condition  of  America,  where  land  of  the 
greatest  fertility  abounded,  while  manual  labour  was  diffi- 
cult to  be  obtained,  early  introduced  the  traffic  in  slaves 
into  the  colonies,  though  it  speaks  favourably  for  the  people 
of  the  country,  that  they  generally  received  this  species  of 
succour  with  reluctance ;  and  a  long  period  elapsed  before 
the  trade  became  important.    It  would  exceed  our  proper 


■  ,.fT . 


>le 
I  of 
[re 
lor 


-V 


vaVal  history. 


65 


office  were  we  to  enter  into  a  continuous  history  of  this 
branch  of  American  commerce,  and  we  shall  confine  our 
remarks,  therefore,  to  the  few  facts  that  were  connected 
with  its  navigation. 

The  first  negro  slaves  brought  into  the  country,  were 
landed  from  a  Dutch  man  of  war,  at  James  Town,  in  1620.* 
Where  these  poor  Africans  were  obtained  is  not  now 
known,  but  they  were  most  probably  the  victims  of  per-* 
fidy.  The  increase  among  the  blacks  was  very  slow,  how- 
ever; for  thirty  years  later  the  whites  o*"  Virginia  were 
said  to  outnumber  the  negroes,  in  the  proportion  of  fifty  to 
one;  and  even  when  the  colony  had  been  settled  seventy 
years  the  slaves  were  not  at  all  numerous.! 

Thb  first  American  vessel  engaged  in  the  slave  trade,  of 
which  we  have  any  account,  sailed  from  Boston,  for  the 
coast  of  Guinea,  in  1645,  having  been  fitted  out  by  Thomas 
Keyser  and  James  Smith.|  The  last  of  these  worthies  was 
a  member  of  the  church.  To  the  credit  of  the  people  of 
Boston,  their  sense  of  right  revolted  at  the  act,  the  parties 
concerned  were  arraigned,  and  the  slaves  were  ordered  to 
be  restored  to  their  native  country  at  the  public  expense. 

Redemptioners  were  also  early  introduced  into  the  coun- 
try as  servants,  as  well  as  the  prisoners  taken  in  the  battles 
of  the  civil  wars.  Thus  the  John  and  Sarah,  which  arrived 
at  Boston  in  1652,  brought  with  her  freight  for  the  Scotch 
prisoners  taken  at  Dunbar.§  Many  of  the  Royalists  taken 
at  the  battle  of  Worcester  were  also  transported  and  sold 
into  servitude.  The  leaders  of  the  insurrection  of  Penrud- 
dock  shared  the  same  fate.  Many  of  the  prisoners  taken 
in  Monmouth's  rebellion  were  sentenced  to  transportation 
in  turn.    Indeed,  at  this  period,  England  appeared  to  think 

» Beverly.  f  Bancroft.  i  Bancroft.  ^ 

S  Suffolk  County  Recorda,  as  given  by  Bancroft. 

6  ,     ^^- 


"/' 
/' 


I      J«r  "f 


*^  .■■*;^.- 


^ 


y 


*       ,4^. 


.#> 


If  AVAL  HISTORY.       ^ 

America  the  best  receptacle  of  her  discontented,  whether 
in  religion  or  politics. 

As  late  as  1724,  the  importation  of  slaves  into  the  Caro- 
lines amounted  to  but  439  souls.  The  trade  was  entirely 
in  British  ships.  At  a  later  day,  however,  Rhode  Island, 
and  some  of  the  other  colonies,  engaged  extensively  in  this 
traffic. -^t'^   *'•"  ■-^■•■iM*-^:-^?--'-^^.. 

We  turn  with  satisfaction  to  the  whale  fisheries.  The 
commencement  of  this  manly,  lucrative  and  hardy  pursuit 
dates  from  an  early  period  in  the  history  of  the  country. 
The  whale  frequenting  the  American  seas,  at  that  time,  the 
people  of  the  coasts  kept  boats,  organised  themselves  into 
gangs,  and  whenever  a  spout  was  seen,  they  would  launch 
in  pursuit.  This  irregular  system  prevailed  many  years, 
until  sloops,  and  other  small  crafl,  began  to  be  employed  in 
the  offing.  These  vessels  would  range  the  coast,  as  far 
south  as  the  West  Indies,  and  north  to  Davis'  Straights. 
They  occasionaly  crossed  to  the  Azores,  where  a  rich 
booty  was  sometimes  obtained  in  the  spermaceti.       '        ~ 

The  whale  fishery  on  a  larger  scale,  dates  from  about 
the  middle  of  the  eighteenth  century,  when  Massachusetts 
in  particular,  engaged  extensively  in  the  enterprise.  This 
colony  alone  is  said  to  have  had  no  less  than  three  hundred 
vessels  employed  in  the  northern  and  southern  whale  fishe- 
ries previous  to  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  Her  vessels  led 
the  way  to  the  South  Atlantic,  to  the  African  coast,  and 
to  the  Pacific  Ocean.        '  "         ^«  ;     =, , 

In  1731,  Pennsylvania  owned  6000  tons  of  shipping,  and 
Massachusetts  near  38,000,  of  which  about  one  half  were 
in  the  European  trade;  vhile  the  entrances  into  New  York 
in  1737  reached  to  211  sail,  and  its  clearances  to  220. 
About  the  same  time  Philadelphia  had  211  of  the  former, 
and  215  of  the  latter.  At  this  period  in  the  history  of  the 
country  (1739,)  Newport  had  a  hundred  sail  of  shipping  of 
different  sizes. 


.-J  '  i 


■  1    " 


%i        NAVAL  HISTORY. 


67 


After  the  war  which  was  terminated  by  the  peace  of 
Utrecht,  most  of  the  maritime  colonies  employed  a  species 
ofguarda-costas,  small  armed  Vessels,  that  were  maintained 
for  the  suppression  of  piracies,  and  for  the  general  protec- 
tion of  the  coasts.  Some  of  these  vessels  were  commanded 
by  young  officers,  who  afterwards  rose  to  more  or  less  dis- 
tinction, either  at  home,  or  in  the  British  service.  Among 
others  was  Lieut.  Wooster,  afterwards  Captain  Wooster,  who 
commanded  the  armed  vessel  employed  by  Massachusetts. 
This  gentleman  was  subsequently  killed  at  Danbury,  during 
the  Revolution,  holding  the  rank  of  a  Brigadier  General  in 
the  militia  of  his  native  state.  i*i^^  '     ;      - 

England  declared  war  in  1789  against  Spain,  and  the 
American  Colonies  became  the  seat  of  many  of  her  prepara- 
tions and  levies.  Natives  of  the  country  were  much  em- 
ployed in  the  different  expeditions,  and  it  is  well  known  that 
the  estate  which  has  since  acquired  so  much  celebrity  on 
account  of  its  having  been  the  property  of  Washington, 
obtained  the  appellation  of  Mount  Vernon  from  the  circum- 
stance that  an  elder  brother,  from  whom  that  great  man 
inherited  it,  had  served  in  the  celebrated  attack  against 
Carthagena,  under  the  admiral  of  that  name.  In  1741,  the 
colonies  supplied  many  of  the  transports  sent  against  Cuba. 

The  year  1744  became  memorable  in  the  history  of  the 
colonies,  by  a  declaration  of  another  war  against  France. 
By  this  time  the  importance  of  all  the  American  provinces, 
whether  English,  French,  or  Spanish,  were  certain  to  ren- 
der them,  more  or  less,  the  seat  of  the  contests;  and  the 
great  European  states  interested,  were  now  found  seriously 
exhibiting  their  power  in  the  Western  hemisphere.  .  The 
short  duration  of  the  war,  probably,  alone  prevented  Aaier- 
ica  from  being  the  scene  of  those  severe  struggles  that  were 
deferred  a  few  years  by  the  peace  of  Aix  la  Chspelle. 
Short  as  was  the  contest,  however,  it  afforded  the  colonists 


%' 

.^^i 


f  »<•"  ■ 


*'-1 


«iie.        .-jiki 


4' 


m 


■*<= 


;^f- 


^^ 


68 


NAVAL  HISTORV. 


an  opportunity  of  manifesting  both  their  spirit  and  their  re- 
sources, by  an  expedition  against  Louisbourg. 

The  French  had  long  been  aware  of  the  importance  of  a 
port  that  commanded  the  entrance  of  the  St.  Lawrence,  as 
Gibraltar  commands  the  approach  to  the  Mediterranean, 
and  vast  sums  of  money  had  been  expended  on  the  fortifi- 
cations of  Louisbourg.  It  is  said  that  no  less  than  $6,000,000 
were  appropriated  to  this  object,  and  a  quarter  of  a  century 
had  been  consumed  in  the  preparations.  The  place  was  so 
formidable  as  to  be  termed  a  second  Dunkirk.  So  conscious 
had  Massachusetts  become  of  her  strength,  however,  that 
no  sooner  was  the  declaration  of  war  known,  than  Gover- 
nor Shirley  laid  propositions  before  both  the  English  ministry 
and  the  colonial  legislature,  for  the  reduction  of  this  great 
naval  and  military  station.  The  General  Court  of  Massa- 
chusetts, at  first,  was  afraid  to  embark  in  so  serious  an  en- 
terprise without  assurances  of  support  from  home,  as  Eng- 
land was  then  uffectionately  termed,  but  the  people  of  the 
colony  getting  a  knowledge  of  the  Governor's  wishes, 
seconded  him  so  strongly  with  petitions,  that  the  measure 
was  finally  carried  by  a  majority  of  one.  Connecticut, 
Rhode  Island  and  New  Hampshire  lent  their  aid,  and  by  the 
25th  of  March,  1745,  the  expedition  was  ready  to  sail.  Not 
a  British  soldier  was  employed,  and  when  the  fleet  left 
Boston,  it  was  with  very  uncertain  hopes  of  being  supported 
by  any  of  the  King's  ships. 

The  land  forces,  all  levies  of  New  England,  no  other 
colony  joining  in  the  enterprise,  were  led  by  Col.  William 
Pepperel,  of  Kittery,  in  Maine,  and  the  fleet  wa?  commanded 
by  CapL  Edward  Tyng,  of  the  Massachusetts  colonial  ma- 
rine. The  naval  part  of  these  forces  consisted  principally  of 
vessels  equipped,  or  hired,  for  this  especial  service.  There 
appear  to  have  been  twelve  in  all,  besides  the  transports, 
the  largest  carrying  but  20  guns.  The  land  forces  amounted 


■■-*" 


!•) 


• 


<** 


» 


'^. 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


m 


to  4070  men.  From  the  various  and  contradictory  accounts 
of  this  armament  we  gather  the  following  list  of  the  colonial 
cruisers  engaged  in  the  expedition,  viz:  Ships,  Massachu- 
setts, 20,  Commodore  Tyng;  Caesar,  20,  Captain  Snelling; — 
Snows,  Shirley,  20,  Captain  Rouse;  Prince  of  Orange,  16, 
Captain    Smethurst; — Brig    Boston   Packet,   16,   Captain 

Fletcher;  and  Sloops, ^  12,  Donahue ; 8,  Saunders; 

Bosch; — a  Ship  hired  by  Rhode  Island,  20,  Captain 

GrifTen,  and  two  vessels  of  16  guns  each,  belonging  to  Con- 
necticut. .;■■"•■■.■..        '.'        ,  r  •'  ji  '•     .;.:       .-;  ^  s'':-    - 

h  is  a  circumstance  worthy  of  being  mentioned,  as  char- 
acteristic of  the  manners  of  the  day,  and  of  the  habitual 
thrift  of  the  New  England  colonists,  that  Governor  Shirley, 
in  his  written  instructions,  lays  great  stress  on  an  order  for 
the  ships  to  go  well  provided  with  cod-lines,  in  order  to 
subsist  the  troops  and  seamen,  as  much  as  possible,  on  the 
products  of  the  sea. 

The  fleet  reached  Canseau  on  the  4th  of  April,  where  it 
remained  some  weeks,  to  be  joined  by  the  levies  of  New 
Hampshire  and  Connecticut,  as  well  as  to  allow  time  for 
the  ice  to  dissolve  in  the  neighbourhopd  of  Cape  Breton. 
For  the  first  time,  probably,  in  the  history  of  the  colonies, 
large  military  preparations  had  been  made  in  season,  and 
the  result  triumphantly  showed  the  benefits  of  this  unwonted 
alacrity.  Here  also  Commodore  Warren,  of  the  British 
navy,  joined  the  expedition,  with  a  part  of  the  West  India 
squadron,  in  which  seas,  and  on  the  American  coast,  he 
had  long  commanded.  This  excellent  and  efficient  officer, 
than  whom  there  was  not  a  braver  in  the  British  marine, 
brought  with  him  the  Superb,  60,  and  three  ships  of  forty 
guns;  his  broad  pennant  flying  in  the  former.  Of  course, 
he  assumed  the  command  of  the  naval  operations,  though 
great  distrust  appears  to  have  existed  between  him  and 
Colonel  Pepperel  to  the  last.  After  a  conference  with  the 
latter,  he  went  off  Louisbourg,  which  he  blockaded. 


'Ml'  ., 


■m'^ 


r 


70 


WAVAL  HISTORY. 


■,fli  ■      I 


^  Louisbourg  was  invested  by  land  on  the  30th  of  April,  and 
after  a  vigorous  siege  of  forty-seven  days,  during  which 
time  a  severe,  cannonade  was  carried  on,  the  place  sub- 
mitted. After  th"  surrender  the'  French  flags  were  kept 
flying  for  some  time,  by  which  rust  two  East  India  men 
and  a  South  Sea  ship,  all  richly  laden,  were  decoyed  into 
the  mouth  of  the  harbour  and  captured.  The  value  of  these 
three  vessels  has  been  estimated  as  high  as  $3,000,000. 

While  cruising  ofi'the  port.  Commodore  Warren  captured, 
with  no  great  resistance,  the  French  man  of  war  Vigilant, 
60,  with  troops  and  supplies  for  the  garrison  This  import- 
ant event,  no  doubt,  was  of  great  moment  to  the  result 
of  the  siege. 

Although  the  naval  part  of  the  colonial  expedition  could 
have  been  of  no  great  account  after  the  arrival  of  Commo- 
dore Warren,*  it  took  the  sea  with  creditable  vigour,  as  soon 
as  Louisbourg  had  submitted.  The  Shirley,  G>^lley,  20, 
Capt  Rouse,  or  as  the  vessel  is  sometimes  calhi,  the  Snow, 
Shirley,  captured  eight  French  vessels,  and,  in  one  instance, 
she  brought  in  two  after  an  obstinate  and  gallant  resistance. 
For  this  exploit,  that  oflicer  received  the  commission  of  a 
captain  in  the  King's  service.     .  •'  > 

v^  No  less  than  400  privateers  are  said  to  have  been  out 
from  the  colonies  in  this  war,  but  the  number  is  so  incredible 
as  to  give  rise  to  the  conjecture  that  the  estimate  includes 
letters  of  marque  and  boats  on  the  coast.  Nothing  worthy 
of  much  notice  occurred  in  Amercia,  however,  during 
this  short  war,  besides  the  capture  of  Louisbourg,  and  this 
place  was  restored  to  the  French,  at  the  peace. 


I 


W 


*  It  bu  been  pretended  that  the  Vigilant  60,  was  captured  by  the  co- 
loiual  ship  Massachusetts  30,  Com.  Tyng;  but  this  statement,  besides  be- 
ing highly  improbable  in  itself,  is  not  properly  sustained  by  the  histories 
oftheday.   v      ,,.^-    ,       .......     ,.>.     ;.  _     .,^^  ^.s^,^y,_.  ^„.  ■^^^.^} 


-"■f*^". 


■^ 


r' 


f^ 


■■#■ 


'A      i 


■i»^ 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


*^ 


/ 


Previous,  however,  to  this  event,  the  French  menaced 
the  whole  of  the  American  coast,  from  Cape  Breton  to  the 
Delaware,  with  two  serious  invasions,  both  of  which  were 
fortunately  defeated;  the  first  by  the  elements,  and  the. 
second  by  the  victory  obtained  by  Admirals  Anson  and 
Warren  in  1747.  The  peace  did  not  take  place  until  the 
following  year,  when  Acadie  was  finally  ceded  to  the 
British  crown  and  took  the  name  of  Nova  Scotia. 

The  general  interest  felt  in  the  fisheries,  and  the  desire  to.  ^^ 
extend' the  commerce  of  the  country,  caused  a  company  in 
Philadelphia  to  undertake  the  discovery  of  a  North  West 
Passage.    With  this  object  the  schooner  Argo,  Captain    ' 
Swaine,  sailed  for  Hudson's  Bay,  March  4th,  1753.    After 
an  absence  of  several  months  the  Argo  returned  to  Phila- 
delphia, having  effected  little  more  than  obtaining  a  better  . 
knowledge  of  the  coast,  and  of  the  inletc  of  the  great  bays. 
The  following  year  the  attempt  was  repeated  with  still  less 
success,  the  vessel  having  lost  three  of  her  people  in  an  en- 
counter with,  the  Indians. 


v>!4fv 


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■     *  .  ■     - 

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ir AVAL  HISTORY. 

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"   ■•*^:""     '■  .  '':  '<^  :        V  ^' ■■•';■■ 

'     CHAPTER  III.  ^  ': 

/ 

^ 


The  peace  of  Aix  la  Chapelle  found  the  navigation  of  the 
American  colonies  in  a  very  flourishing  condition.  More 
than  a  century  had  elapsed  since  the  settlements  had  passed  ^ 
the  ordeal  of  their  infant  struggles,  and  although  distant 
from  each  other,  and  labouring  under  the  disadvantages  of 
a  scattered  population^  they  were  fast  rising  to  the  dignity 
and  power  of  states.  The  necessity  of  maintaining  all  their 
more  important  communications  by  water,  had  a  direct 
tendency  to  encourage  a  disposition  to  the  sea,  and  although  ^-- 
without  a  regular  warlike  marine,  their  mercantile  tonnage 
probably  equalled  that  of  the  mother  country,  when  con-  *  • 
sidered  in  reference  to  population.  The  number  of  soi^  in 
all  the  provinces,  at  that  period,  did  not  much  exceed  a 
million,  if  the  Indians  be  excluded  from  the  computation. 
Of  the  tonnage  it  is  not  easy  to  speak  with  accuracy, 
though  we  possess  sufficient  authority  by  which  to  form 
some  general  estimates.  The  year  of  the  peace,  500  vessels 
are  said  to  have  cleared  from  the  single  port  of  Boston,  and 
430  entered ;  this  was  exclusively  of  coasters;  and  fishing 
vessels.  At  Portsmouth,  New  Hampshire,  there  were  121 
clearances  and  73  entries,  besides  200  coasting  vessels  in 
regular  employment.  The  trade  of  New  York  and  Phil- 
adelphia was  less  than  that  of  Boston,  but  still  respectable. 
Thus  in  1749,  or  the  year  succeeding  that  of  the  peace,  the 


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• 

NAVAL  HISTORY. 


\J 


98 


m 


clearances  at  Philadelphia  were  291,  and  the  entries  303; 
while  Boston,  during  the  same  period,  had  604  clearances 
and  489  entries.  In  1750,  a  year  in  which  the  navigation 
had  sensibly  diminished,  the  clearances  of  the  former  port 
were  286,  and  the  entries  232.  Many  ports,  which  have 
since  lost  most  of  their  navigation,  then  enjoyed  a  respect- 
able  trade,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  Newport, 
Rhode  Island,  and  Perth  Amboy  in  New  Jersey, ' 

The  settlements  extended  nowhere  to  any  great  distance 
from  the  ocean,  the  entire  population  being  virtually  ranged 
along  the  coast,  of  which  the  Amerrcan  colonies  then  pos- 
sessed rather  more  in  extent  than  that  of  the  entire  coast  of 
the  Island  of  Great  Britain.  Some  of  the  writers  of  the 
^day  boast  that  the  tonnage  and  guns  employed  in  privateers 
out  of  the  colonies,  during  the  late  war,  exceeded  the  ton- 
nage and  guns  of  the  royal  navy  of  England,  in  the  reign 
of  Queen  Elizabeth.  Although  many  of  the  clearances  and 
entries  just  enumerated,  were,  unquestionably,  those  of  ves- 
sels owned  by  the  mother  country,  there  is  no  doubt  that  a 
very  fair  proportion  belonged  to  the  provinces.  The  num- 
h|tf||^coasting  and  fishing  vessels,  in  particular,  was  already 
^^^P  Massachusetts  alone  owning  nearly  one  vessel,  of 
saMvdescription  or  other,  for  each  hundred  inhabitants. 

Up  to  this  period,  the  common  white  oak  of  the  forest 
was  the  wood  principally  used  in  naval  constructions, 
though  the  chestnut  was  also  found  serviceable  in  particular 
parts  of  the  frames.  The  white  oak  of  North  America 
varies  very  much  in  quality,  according  to  the  latitude,  and 
other  circumstances ;  that  which  grows  in  the  southern  dis- 
tricts, as  well  as  that  which  grows  near  the  sea,  being  gen- 
erally more  esteemed  than  that  which  is  found  further 
north,  or  remote  from  the  coast.  The  trees,  moreover, 
which  have  been  left  in  the  open  lands,  have  a  value  that 
does  not  belong  to  those  which  have  acquired  all  their  pro- 

VoL.  I.— 7  j 


*#• 


-m. 


^ 


"^^  ^ 


'M 


-i' 


74 


If  AVAL  HISTORT. 


S- 


perties  in  the  shades  of  the  forest.  But  a  new  era  in  ship 
building  was  at  hand,  through  the  introduction  of  a  wood 
that  greatly  abounded  in  the  more  southern  maritime  regions 
of  British  America.  In  17.50,  a  vessel  called  the  Live  Oak 
arrived  in  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  having  been  built  of 
the  invaluable  timber,  after  which  she  was  named,  which 
was  now  discovered  to  be  one  of  the  best  materials  for 
naval  architecture  known.  The  Live  Oak  is  said  to  have 
been  the  first  vessel  la  which  this  wood  was  ever  used. 

It  also,  about  this  time,  became  a  practice  among  the 
gnntry  of  the  American  provinces,  to  cause  their  sons  to  be 
entered  as  midshipmen  in  the  royal  navy.  Occasionally  an 
American  had  been  transferred  from  the  colonial  marine 
to  that  of  the  king,  but,  hitherto,  very  few  boys  had  been 
regularly  entered  or  rated  in  the  service,  with  a  view  to 
adopting  it  as  a  profession.  The  circumstance  that  Wash- 
ington was  intended  for  such  a  life  is  generally  known,  and 
we  now  look  back  at  the  tender  affection  of  his  mother, 
which  alone  prevented  it,  as  to  a  Providentisfl  interference 
in  behalf  of  the  nation.  Many  of  those  who  were  thus  rated 
in  the  English  marine  rose  to  high  stations,  and 
have  been,  or  still  are,  classed  among  the  ablest  anl 
useful  of^cers  in  the  employment  of  the  British 
We  might  even  point  to  a  painful  notoriety  that  a  few  ob- 
tained, by  their  activity  against  the  land  of  their  birth, 
during  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 

The  tranquillity  established  by  the  treaty  of  Aix  la  Cha- 
pelle,  like  that  produced  by  the  peace  of  Utrecht,  was  of 
but  short  continuance.  Disputes  early  commenced  between 
the  English  and  French  provinces,  in  relation  to  their  boun- 
daries; and  an  inland  war  actually  broke  out  between 
them  in  1754,  though  the  peace  of  Europe  was  not  imme- 
diately disturbed  by  this  remote  and  local  contest.  This 
singular  state  of  things  continued  throughout  1755,  and 


U9  laicu 


m 


•■■■t    » 


T        \ 


* 


»     ^1 


%. 


■^. 


• 


VAVAL  HUilORY. 


7» 


the  campaign  of  that  year  was  one  of  the  most  import- 
ant that  had  then  occurred  on  the  American  continent. 
Both  nations  reinforced  their  troops  from  Europe,  and 
strong  squadrons  were  employed  to  protect  the  convoys ; 
but  there  being  no  technical  hostilities,  commissions  were 
not  issued  to  letters  of  marque  and  privateers.  After  many 
ineffectual  attempts  at  an  accommodation,  however,  the 
King  of  Great  Britain  made  a  formal  dccla.  ation  of  war 
on  the  17th  of  May,  1756. 

Such  was  the  commencement  of  the  struggle  that  in 
America  is  familiarly  called  "the  old  French  war."  Al- 
though this  contest  was  of  the  last  importance  to  the  colo- 
nies, by  driving  the  French  from  their  part  of  the  conti- 
nent and  by  leaving  the  savages  without  an  ally,  its  events 
were  more  properly  connected  with  the  movements  of 
armies,  than  with  any  naval  operations  of  magnitude,  so  far 
as  the  latter  belong  to  the  subject  of  this  work.  The 
beginning  of  the  war  was  disastrous,  but  in  the  end,  the 
celebrated  £arl  of  Chatham  succeeded  in  infusing  a  por- 
tion of  his  own  energy  into  the  councils  of  the  King,  and 
from  that  moif  ent  the  most  brilliant  success  rewarded  his 
efforts.  *  ' 

An  expedition  against  Louisbourg  was  attempted  in  1757, 
under  Admiral  Holbourn,  but  it  was  abandoned  on  ascer- 
taining that,  besides  ifs  regular  garrison  and  important 
works,  the  place  was  defended  by  a  fleet  of  17  sail  of  the 
line,  which  was  moored  in  the  harbour.  We  learn  the 
growing  importance  of  the  colonies  in  the  forces  employ- 
ed on  this  occcasion;  Louisbourg  having  a  garrison  of 
6000  regulars,  while  the  army  destined  to  attack  it,  mus- 
tered something  like  1^,000  English  troops,  besides  provin- 
cials. The  failure  apipaars  to  have  arisen  out  of  the  supe- 
riority of  the  French  in  ships. 

It  is  worthy  of  mention,  that,  while  the  English  fleet  was 


J< 


*: 


# 


.?>,-'■ 


■t 


.r«i 


76 


*.         Vt 


NAVAL  mSTORV. 


■♦    • 


cruising  off  Loulsbourg  it  met  with  n  heavy  gnle,  in  which 
one  of  its  ships,  the  Tilbury,  was  wrecked,  and  more  than 
two  hundred  of  her  crew  were  drowned.  The  remainder 
fell  into  the  honds  of  the  French,  who,  with  the  humanity 
and  courtesy  of  a  great  and  polished  nation,  sent  the  suf- 
ferers to  Halifax,  under  the  protection  of  a  flag  of  truce. 

Although  Spain  became  a  party  to  the  war  in  1702,  on 
the  side  of  France,  it  did  not  materially  vary  the  nature  of 
the  exertions  of  the  colonies,  which  were  mainly  directed  to 
the  reduction  of  the  Canadas,  by  means  of  expeditions  in- 
land. Martinique  and  the  Havanna  were  both  captured, 
but  the  fleets  employed  by  the  English  were  on  a  scale  too 
large  to  require  the  aid  of  the  light  vessels  of  the  provinces. 
Many  Americans  served  in  these  enterprises,  both  by  land 
and  by  water,  but,  as  is  always  the  case,  when  there  is  me- 
tropolitan power  to  claim  the  glory,  the  credit  due  their 
exertions  was  absorbed  in  the  renown  of  the  mother 
country.  .     * 

Peace  was  signed  on  the  10th  of  February,  1663,  and 
from  that  day  France  ceased  to  claim  any  portion  of  the 
American  Continent  north  of  Louisiana,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  two  insigniflcant  fishing  stations,  near  the  outlet  of 
the  St.  Lawrence.  The  conquests  of  this  war  were  an  in- 
cipient step  towards  the  eventual  independence  of  the  colo- 
nies, since  the  latter  found  themselves  without  any  enemy 
in  their  vicinity,  to  cause  them  to  lean  on  England  for  suc- 
cour, or  to  divert  their  policy  from  those  domestic  mea- 
sures which  were  more  immediately  connected  with  their 
internal  prosperity. 

The  northern  colonies  gained  much  credit  by  their  ex- 
ertions in  the  late  war,  having  raised  a  respectable  army, 
but  less  mention  is  made  of  their  pri^^tcers  than  might  have 
been  supposed,  from  which  we  are  led  to  infer,  that  the  en- 
terprises of  this  nature  did  not  attract  as  much  attention  as 


t¥ 


"ttV-- 


f  f^;  '^ 


m^ 


r» 


r 


f    ■ 


•>t 


M 


4^    ' 


f. 


ITAVAL  RISTORT. 


\ 


77 


those  which  had  characterized  the  earlier  struggles  of  the 
country.  -.l^w.  .    •    .«   .    . 

At  the  close  of  this  great  contest,  the  original  Ameri- 
can colonies,  or  those  which  have  since  constituted  the 
United  States,  without  including  the  Floridas  and  Louisi- 
ana, are  supposed  to  have  contained  more  than  1;200,000 
souls,  exclusively  of  Indians.  Censuses  were  actually  taken 
in  one  or  two  of  the  provinces.  That  of  Massachu.'ietts 
gave  a  return  a  little  exceeding  246,000;  including  6000 
people  of  colour.  That  of  Maryland,  taken  in  1766,  gave 
a  total  of  107,208  whites,  a  number  considerably  exceeding 
the  estimates  after  the  peace.    - 

This  war,  while,  on  the  part  of  the  colonists,  it  was  so 
much  confined  to  expeditions  by  land,  afforded,  notwith- 
standing, some  instances  of  hardihood  and  gallantry  on  the 
part  of  the  privateers,  of  which,  as  usual,  more  or  less 
wore  at  sea.  One  of  these  actions  deserves  to  be  noticed, 
as  it  was  among  the  most  obstinate  of  which  we  possess  any 
authentic  accounts.  It  was  in  January  1758,  that  the  priva- 
teer Thurloe,  14,  Captain  Mantle,  fell  in  with  the  French 
privateer  Les  Deux  Amis,  10,  Captain  Felix.  The  Thurloe 
had  a  crew  of  84  men,  and  Les  Deux  Amis  a  crew  of 
08.  Perceiving  the  superiority  of  his  antagonist  in  guns, 
the  Frenchman  endeavoured  to  escape,  but  finding  this  im- 
possible, he  ran  him  atwhart  hawse,  and  made  a  noble 
effort  to  carry  him  by  boarding.  He  was  met  by  a  resolu- 
tion equal  to  his  own,  and  for  more  than  two  hours  these 
small  vessels  are  said  to  have  remained  foul  of  each  other, 
their  crews  contending  for  victory,  with  all  the  implements 
of  destruction  known  to  the  warfare  of  the  day.  The 
Thurloe  alone,  is  said  to  have  thrown  no  fewer  than  300 
powder-flasks,  and  72  stink-pots  on  board  her  enemy,  besides 
making  a  liberal  use  of  her  guns  and  small  arms.  The 
Deux  Amis  struck,  probably  subdued  by  the  guns  of  her 

7* 


;* 


■A:  . 


■^i 


^1  '^ 


9' 


s- 


ft' 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


adversary,  but  not  until  she  had  rendered  the  combat  one  of 
the  bloodiest  in  naval  annal:?,  by  the  obstinacy  of  her  re- 
sistance. The  Thurloe  had  12  men  killed,  and  25  wound- 
ed; Les  Deux  Amis  had  more  than  80  of  her  people  in  the 
same  situation.  '  "    ,     ■       .■  .       .  i^  >•  ^« -^ 

Although  the  history  of  this  action  is  liable  to  the  distrust 
that  accompanies  all  accounts  that  are  not  subjected  to  tho 
investigation  of  official  forms  and  official  scrutiny,  it  ap- 
pears to  be  given  with  a  particularity,  in  the  accounts  of 
the  day,  that  renders  it  worthy  of  credit. 

Immediately  after  the  peace  of  1763,  commenced  that 
legislative  usurpation  on  the  part  of  the  mother  country, 
which  twenty  years  later  terminated  in  the  independence 
of  the  colonies.  It  would  exceed  the  proper  limits  of  a 
work  of  this  character,  to  enter  into  the  details  of  that 
eventful  period,  or  minutely  to  trace  the  progress  of  a  sys- 
tem of  encroachments  that  gradually  undermined  the  alle- 
giance of  a  people,  whose  confiding  affection  still  resists 
the  animosities  of  two  wars,  and,  the  jealousies  and  compe- 
tition of  commerce. 

America,  at  the  period  of  which  we  write,  had  that  men- 
tal dependence  on  the  mother  country,  which  the  province 
is  known  to  feel  for  the  metropolis;  exaggerating  its  virtues, 
palliating  its  defects,  and  substituting  its  own  images  for 
reason  and  truth.  The  temporary  alienation  that  succeeded 
was  the  work  of  time,  and  it  required  more  than  ten  years 
of  progressive  innovations,  on  the  part  of  the  parliament  of 
Great  Britain,  before  the  more  daring  and  far-sighted  of  the 
American  leaders  could  bring  the  body  of  the  people  up  to 
the  point  of  open  resistance.  All  this  time,  however,  the 
provinces  were  rapidly  increasing  in  numbers,  in  resources, 
and  in  a  spirit  of  nationality,  as  opposed  to  the  ancient  sen- 
timent, which  identified  the  children  of  the  colonists  with  a 
land  that  they  still  loved  to  term  "home."  As  the  causes 
which  led  to  the  great  results  that  followed  lay  deeper  than 


I  f 


iy'-'; 


.aa^._ 


.  ■ 


NAVAL  HISTORY, 


w 


I  I 


it  was  usual  for  the  writers  of  the  day  to  consider,  a  passing 
word  on  so  grave  a  subject  may  not  be  thrown  away. 

In  the  age  when  the  American  colonies  were  founded,   ^ 
and  received  their  different  charters  from  the  crown,  the 
prerogative  of  the  King  of  England  was  active,  the  monarch 
effectually  ruling  the  empire,  checked  by  the  other  branches 
of  the  government.    The  relation  between  a  prince  and  his 
subjects  is  simple,  and,  when  not  diverted  from  its  legitimate 
direction,  it  is  fostering  and  paternal.    Under  such  circum- 
3tances,  and  especially  when  there  exist  no  unusual  sources 
of  irritation,  the  several  parts  of  an  extended  empire  may  be 
governed  equitably  and  on  a  common  principle  of  justice.  V^ 
The  monarch  of  one  portion  of  the  territories  is  the  monarch 
of  another,  and  he  is  supposed  equally  to  respect  the  rights 
and  interests  of  all.    But,  when  the  revolution  of  1668  put 
the  House  of  Hanover  on  the  throne,  a  svstem  of  ministerial 
responsibility  was  established,  that  gradually  reduced  the 
power  of  the  crown,  until  the  ministers,  who,  in  effect,  form 
the  executive  of  Great  Britain,  got  to  be  the  creatures  of 
parliament,  instead  of  the  real  servants  of  the  prince.    It  is 
true,  that  the  king  named  his  cabinet,  or  rather  its  head;  but 
he  was  compelled  to  name  those  that  parliament  selected,  or 
the  latter  stopped  tlie  supplies.    This  was  effectually  substi- 
tuting the  power  of  parliament,  in  all  the  more  important 
relations  of  the  empire,  for  that  of  the  king;  and,  as  parlia- 
ment was  composed  of  the  representation,  direct  and  indirect, 
of  a  small  part  of  the  territory  nominally  subject  to  the 
British  Crown,  it  followed  as  a  consequence,  that  this  portion 
of  the  empire,  by  extending  its  legislation  unduly  over  the 
others,  was  substituting  a  new  and  dangerous  master,  for  a 
prince  who  might  be  supposed  to  know  no  difference  in  his 
affection  for  his  subjects. 

While,  however,  this  was  probably  the  principle  that  lay 
at  the  root  of  the  difficulties  with  America,  few  saw  it  in 


4v:    ; 


»*K 


«' 


A,'  ^'' 


80 


VAVAL  HISTORY. 


n-- 


theory;  f^cts  invariably  preceding  opinion  in  a  country  as 
purely  practical  as  this.  Legislative  usurpation,  in  the 
abstract,  was  resisted ;  while  few  perceived  the  difference 
between  a  legislation  that  was  effectually  checked  by  the 
veto  of  an  independent  monarch,  bearing  an  equal  relation 
to  all  the  parts  of  a  vast  empire,  and  a  legislation  that  not 
only  held  this,  but  all  the  other  material  powers  of  the  crown, 
directly  or  indirectly,  in  subjection. 

Empires  may  be  held  together  when  the  several  parts  are 
ruled  by  a  central  power  that  has  a  common,  just,  and  obvious 
interest  in  all;  but  nothing  short  of  force  can  compel  the 
possessors  of  one  detached  territory  to  be  subservient  to  the 
interests  of  the  possessors  of  the  seat  of  authority.  This 
great  obstacle,  then,  lay  at  the  root  of  ihe  difficulties,  and, 
keeping  out  of  view  the  questions  of  the  day,  which  arose 
as  consequences  rather  than  as  causes,  it  is  now  clear  that 
the  connexion  could  not  have  been  perpetuated,  while  so 
small  a  fragment  of  the  empire  controlled  so  absolutely  the 
great  and  moving  power  of  the  state. 

Among  the  offensive  measures  adopted  by  parliament  was 
a  du'  on  stamps,  and  another  on  tea.  By  the  first,  vessels 
could  not  regularly  proceed  to  sea,  unless  furnished  with 
the  required  stamps;  yet  so  strong  was  the  opposition  that 
ships  actually  ventured  on  the  ocean  without  the  necessary 
papers;  nor  is  it  known  that  any  serious  consequences  re- 
sulted from  so  bold  a  step.  In  the  end,  the  stamp-officers 
having  resigned,  and  no  one  being  willing  to  incur  the 
odium  of  filling  their  places,  the  courts  of  justice  them- 
selves, transacted  business  without  regard  to  those  forms 
that  the  acts  of  parliament  had  rendered  necessary.  This 
tax  was  finally  abandoned,  and  substitutes  were  sought  for, 
that  were  believed  to  be  more  manageable. 

Fresh  attempts  to  enforce  the  navigation  act,  which  had 
virtually  become  a  dead  letter,  were  made  in  1768,  and  a 


*»■ 


'vV^' 


'ir 


-^i 


■^:. 


'■0f^        r 


^-;.- 


.M-:-    '# 


i^' 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


sloop  from  Madeira,  loaded  with  wine,  was  actually  seized 
in  Boston,  and  placed  under  the  guns  of  the  Romney  man 
of  war.  A  mob  followed,  and  the  public  officers  were 
driven  to  seek  protection  in  the  castle. 

Great  Britain  had  never  maintained  a  body  of  troops  in 
her  colonies,  except  to  protect  them  against  the  French  and 
Indians.  These  soldiers  had  hitherto  been  principally  kept 
on  remote  frontiers ;  but  regiments  were  now  sent  to  Bos- 
Ion,  evidently  with  a  view  to  enforce  the  assumed  ascen- 
dency of  the  British  Parliament.  This  step  added  greatly 
to  the  discontent,  and  eventually  was  the  direct  cause  of 
the  commencement  of  hostilities. 

The  first  overt  act  of  resistance  that  took  place  in  this 
celebrated  struggle,  occurred  in  1772,  in  the  waters  of 
Rhode  Island.  A  vessel  of  war  had  been  stationed  on  the 
coast  to  enforce  the  laws,  and  a  small  schooner,  with  a  light 
armament  and  twenty  seven  men,  called  the  Gasp6,  was 
employed  as  a  tender,  to  run  into  the  shallow  waters  of  that 
coast.  On  the  17th  of  June,  1772,  a  Providence  packet,  that 
plied  between  New  York  and  Rhode  Island,  named  the 
Hannah,  and  commanded  by  a  Captain  Linzee,  hove  in 
sight  of  the  man  of  war,  on  her  passage  up  the  bay.  The 
Hannah  was  ordered  to  bring  to,  in  order  to  be  CAiMTiined; 
but  her  master  refused  to  copiply;  and  being  fovoured  by  a 
fresh  southerly  breeze,  that  was  fast  sweepintj  liim  out  of 
gun-shot,  the  Gasp6  was  signalled  to  follow.  For  five  and 
twenty  miles  the  chase  continued,  under  u  press  of  sail, 
when  the  Hannah  coming  up  with  a  bar,  with  which  her 
master  was  familiar,  and  drawing  less  water  than  the 
schooner,  Captain  Linzee  led  the  latter  on  a  shoal  where  she 
struck.  The  tide  falling,  the  Gasp6  sewed,  and  was  not  in  a 
condition  to  be  removed  for  several  hours. 

The  news  of  the  chase  was  circulated  on  th3  arrival  of 
the  Hannah  at  Providence.    A  strong  feelincr  was  excited 


"A. 


■l^^ 

'W^' 


.^ 


82 


NAVAL  HISTORy. 


among  the  population,  and  towards  evening  tiie  town  drum- 
mer appeared  in  the  streets,  assembling  the  people  in  the  ordi- 
nary manner.  When  a  crowd  was  collected,  this  man  led  his 
followers  in  front  of  a  shed  that  stood  near  one  of  the  stores, 
when  one  disguised  as  an  Indian  suddenly  appeared  on  the 
roof,  and  proclaimed  a  secret  expedition  for  that  night,  in- 
viting all  of  "  stout  hearts"  to  assemble  on  the  wharf,  pre- 
cisely at  nine,  disguised  like  himself.  At  the  appointed 
hour,  most  of  the  men  in  the  place  collected  at  the  spot  de- 
signated, when  sixtyvfour  were  selected  for  the  bold  under- 
taking that  was  in  view. 

■  This  party  embarked  in  eight  of  the  launches  of  the  dif- 
ferent vessels  lying  at  the  wharves,  and  taking  with  them  a 
quantity  of  round  paving  stones,  they  pulled  down  the  river 
in  a  body.  The  commander  of  these  men  is  supposed  to 
have  been  a  Captain  Whipple,  who  afterwards  held  a  oom- 
mission  iu  the  service  of  Congress,  but  none  of  the  names 
were  publicly  mentioned  at  the  time.  On  nearing  the 
Gasp^,  about  two  in  the  morning,  the  boats  were  hailed  by  jf^ 
a  sentinel  on  deck.  This  man  was  driven  below  by  a  volley 
of  the  stones.  The  commander  of  the  Gasp6  now  appeared, 
and  warning  the  boats  off,  he  fired  a  pistol  at  them.  This 
discharge  was  returned  from  a  musket,  and  the  officer  was 
shot  through  the  thigh.  By  this  time,  the  crew  of  the  Gasp^ 
had  assembled,  and  the  party  from  Providence  boarded.  ^ 
The  conflict  was  short,  the  schooner's  people  being  soon 
knocked  down  and  secured.  All  on.  board  were  put  into 
the  boats,  and  the  Gaspd  was  set  on  fire.  Towards  morn- 
ing she  blew  up. 

This  bold  step  naturally  excited  great  indignation  in  the 
British  officers,  and  all  possible  means  were  taken  to  dis- 
cover the  offenders.  The  Government  at  home  offered  a 
reward  of  £1000  sterling  for  the  leader,  and  £600  to  any 
person  who  would  discover  the  other  parties,  with  the 


\?' 


M 


#' 


M 


it]' 


0 


>f* 


ra* 


'ifk 


7*-*  ; 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


m 


\f 


promise  of  a  pardon  should  the  informer  be  an  accomplice. 
But  the  feeling  of  the  times  was  too  high  for  the  ordinary 
means  of  detection,  no  evidence  having  ever  been  obtained 
sufficient  even  to  arraign  a  solitary  individual,  notwithstand- 
ing a  Commission  of  Inquirji,  under  the  Great  Seal  of  Eng- 
land, sat  with  that  object,  from  January  to  June,  during  the 
year  1773.  •  ' 

Although  this  affair  led  to  no  immediate  results,  it  doubt- 
less had  its  influence  in  widening  the  breach  between  the 
opposing  parties,  and  it  is  worthy  of  refmark,  that  in  it  was 
shed  the  first  blood  that  flowed  in  the  struggle  for  American 
Independence ;  the  whole  transaction  being  as  direct  a  re- 
sistance to  oppression,  as  the  subsequent,  and  better  known 
fight  at  Lexington. 

The  year  1773  is  memorable  in  American  history,  for  the 
resistance  made  by  the  colonists  to  the  duty  on  tea.    By 
.^^  means  of  some  management  on  the  part  of  the  British  min- 
istry, in  permitting  the  East  India  Company  to  export  their 
t,teas  free  of  charges,  it  was  now  possible  to  sell  the  article 
^*at  a  lower  rate  in  America,  subject  to  the  duty,  than  it 
^    could  have  been  sold  previously  to  the  imposition  of  the  tax. 
•     Fancying  that  this  circumstance  would  favour  the  views  of 
all  the  parties  in  Europe,  for  the  warehouses  of  the  com- 
pany were  glutted  in  consequence  of  the  system  of  non-im- 
portation adopted  by  the  colonists,  several  cargoes  were 
sent  to  different  ports,  including  New  York,  Philadelphia, 
Charleston  and  Boston.    The  inhabitants  of  the  two  former 
places  compelled  the  ships  to  return  to  London,  without  un- 
loading, while  the  people  of  Charleston  caused  their  vessel 
to  be  discharged,  and  the  tea  to  be  stored  in  damp  cellars, 
where  it  finally  spoiled. 

Three  ships  loaded  with  the  offensive  article  had  been 
sent  to  Boston,  and  the  inhabitants  succeeded  in  persuading 
their  masters  to  consent  to  return  to  London,  without  dis- 


r-i. 


fi4. 


r-n 


t^ 


64 


#  '      ^^* 


\ 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


charging,  but  the  consignees  refused  to  release  them  from 
their  charter-parties,  while  the  authorities  denied  the  neces- 
sary clearances.  The  governor  even  withheld  the  permit 
necessary  to  pass  the  fort.  This  conduct  produced  great 
excitement,  and  preparations  were  made  to  destroy  the  tea, 
under  an  apprehension  that  it  might  be  gradually  and  clan- 
destinely landed.  Suddenly,  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening,  a 
party  disguised  as  Indians,  and  which  has  been  differently 
represented  as  composed  of  twenty  men  up  to  eighty,  ap- 
peared in  the  streets,  marching  swiftly  in  the  direction  of 
the  wharves.  It  was  followed  by  a  mob,  and  proceeded  to 
one  of  the  tea-ships,  which  it  boarded,  and  of  which  it  took 
poEiOssion  without  resistance.  The  hatches  were  broken 
ope  ;,  and  the  chests  of  tea  were  struck  on  deck,  staved,  and 
tlieir  contents  were  thrown  into  ihe  water.  The  whole  pro- 
ceedir  gs  were  conducted  in  the  most  /rderly  manner,  and 
with  little  or  no  noise,  the  labourers  seldom  speaking.  So 
much  mystery  attended  this  affair,  that  it  is  not  easy,  even 
at  this  remote  day,  to  ascertain  all  the  particulars ;  and, 
although  the  names  of  the  actors  have  been  mentioned  ' 
openly  of  late,  for  a  long  period  apprehensions  are  said  to 
have  been  entertained,  by  some  engaged — men  of  wealth — 
that  they  might  yet  be  made  the  subjects  of  a  prosecution 
for  damages,  by  the  East  India  Company.  Three  hundred 
and  forty  two  chests  o(  lea  were  destroyed,  which  was 
probably  rhe  cargo  of  a  single  ship,  the  two  others  quitting 
the  port  soon  after. 

This  daring  act  was  followed  by  the  Boston  Port  Bill,  a 
political  measure  that  wa  equrTy  high-handed,  since  it 
denied  the  people  of  the  town  all  direct  r-^.rticipation  in 
commerce.  This  sudden  v  iixk,  in  twenty  days  notice,  to 
the  trade  of  a  place  that  had  seen,  the  previous  year,  411 
clearances,  and  587  entries,  to  and  from  foreign  ports,  pro- 
duced much  distress  in  the  town  itself,  and 


greater 


indig- 


'4 


i^ 


-r 


•a 


m^ 


r 


.f- 


M 


1 


I 


■  A 


% 


# 


\ '  I 


V^' 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


^   ■ 


# 


85 


^ 


t.'ii 


\- 


*%  * 


.    l 


m 


r 


hp 


Jl^ 


sfniip:^ 


nation  throughout  the  country.    It  had  been  the  misfortune 
of  England,  never  to  understand  the  character  of  the  people 
^p'.  of  the  American  colonies;  for,  accustomed  to  dependencies 

that  had  been  humbled  by  conquest,  she  had  not  yet  learned 
'■  to  appreciate  the  spirit  of  those  who  were  rapidly  shooting 

i'^  up  into  political  manhood  by  their  own  efforts,  and  who  had 
only  placed  themselves  in  the  situation  they  occupied,  be- 
cause they  had  founa  the  liberty  of  England  herself,  insuf- 

4'        dcient  for  their  opinions  and  wants. 

The  people  now  began  seriously  to  prepare  for  an  appeal 
to  force,  and  they  profited  by  the  liberty  that  was  still  left 
them,  to  organize  military  corps,  with  a  view  to  recover  that 
which  they  had  lost.  A  Congress  of  representatives  from 
the  different  colonies  convened,  and  a  system  of  organiza- 

^        tion  and  concert  was  adopted,  that  served  to  unite  as  many 
as  possible  in  the  struggle  that  was  fast  approaching. 

Towards  the  close  of  the  year  1774,  various  steps  were 

taken  in  different  parts  of  the  country,  that  had  a  direct 

bearing  on  the  civil  war  that  was  known  to  be  at  hand. 

jflpi.  Laws  had  been  passed  in  England,  prohibiting  the  exporta- 

%■         tion  of  arms  and  military  supplies  to  America,  and  the  can- 

'  '  non  and  powder  of  Ihe  crown  were  seized  at  various  points, 
either  by  the  local  governments,  or  by  private  individuals. 
Twenty-six  guns,  of  different  calibres,  were  found  on  Fort 
Island  and  carried  to  Providence,  and  the  people  of  Rhode 
Island,  are  said  to  have  got  possession,  in  the  whole,  of  quite 
forty  guns,  by  these  bold  measures.  Af  Portsmouth,  New 
Hampshire,  a  body  of  400  men  proceeded  to  the  castle,  at 

'*  the  harbour's  mouth,  kept  the  garrison  in  check,  and  break- 
ing open  the  magazine,  they  carried  ofTone  hui^red  barrels 
of  powder.  "^  ""         %. 

,.  While  means  like  these  were  used  to  collect  the  neces- 

sary military  equipments,  provisions,  as  well  .as  arms,  were 
collected  in  different  parts  of  the  country,  in  readiness  for  a 
Vol.  I.— 8 


.'■  ■'h 


■^;r 


,.*? 


.  X,:'-']:. 


'if:» 


V  # 


''W* 


VI 


66 


If  AVAL  HISTORY.       i 


campaign.  Among  other  d^pdts  of  this  nature,  one  had  been 
made  at  Concord,  a  small  town  at  the  distance  of  eighteen 
miles  from  Boston,  and  General  Oage,  who  commanded  the 
British  forces  in  America,  deemed  it  essential  that  it  should 
be  destroyed.  A  strong  detachment  was  sent  on  this  ser- 
vice, and  it  fell  in  with  a  small  body  of  American  minute- 
men  at  Lexington.  These  militia  were  dispersed  by  a 
volley,  in  which  a  few  men  were  killed.  This  affair  has 
always  been  considered  the  commencement  of  the  War  of 
the  Revolution;  and  justly,  as  the  hostilities  which  were 
then  commenced  did  not  cease,  until  the  Independence  of 
the  Colonies  was  acknowledged  by  treaty.  The  British 
proceeded  to  Concord,  where  they  effected  their  object, 
though  not  without  resistance.  The  people  now  began  to 
collect  in  force,  and  as  soon  as  the  British  resumed  their 
march  on  their  return  to  Boston,  they  were  assailed  by  the 
former,  from  behind  the  walls  and  fences.  So  vigorously 
were  the  troops  pressed  on  this  occasion,  that  it  is  thought 
they  must  have  surrendered,  had  they  not  been  met  by  a 
strong  reinforcement,  commanded  by  Lord  Percy,  which 
enabled  them  to  halt  and  recover  their  breath.  As  soon  as 
the  march  was  begun  again,  however,  the  provincials 
renewed  the  attack,  and  the  British  did  not  succeed  in 
gaining  a  place  of  security,  until  they  reached  Charlestown 
neck.  In  this  affair  the  loss  of  the  Americans  has  been 
ascertained  to  have  amounted  to  50  killed,  34  wounded,  and 
4  missing;  that  of  the  British  to  73  killed,  174  wounded, 
and  26  prisoners. 

The  intelligence  of  this  important  event  circulated  like  a 
raging  fire  throughout  the  country,  and  it  everywhere  was 
received  as  a  call  to  battle.  Reserve  was  thrown  aside;  the 
population  flew  to  arms,  and  the  military  stores  of  the  crown 
were  seized  wherever  they  could  be  found.  An  irregular 
body  of  20,000  men  appeared  before  Boston,  with  incredible 


\t^: 


I  ( 


.■J» 


•^ 


^'* 


vr 


••■»/•* 


•iV'*? 


I   I 


'►> 


\% 


V* 


NAVAL  HISTORY.  .     ♦  iT 

rapidity,  and  formed  a  line  confining  the  royal  army  to  the 
occupation  of  the  town.  With  a  view  to  reduce  their  enemy 
to  still  narrower  limits,  Breed's  Hill,  a  height  that  commands 
the  inner  harbour  of  Boston,  was  seized,  and  a  redoubt 
commenced.  This  step  brought  on  the  combat  that  has 
since  been  termed  the  Battle  of  Bunker's  Hill,  one  of  the 
'^  most  extraordinary  conflicts  of  modem  times,  and  which 
may  be  said  to  have  given  birth  to  American  Indepen- 
dence. Washington  was  now  appointed  Commander  in 
Chief  by  the  Congress  of  the  United  Colonies,  and  the  war 
commenced  under  the  usual  laws  of  civilized  nations,  with 
the  exception  of  the  formality  of  a  declaration.  .,,> 


■*:■ 


i. 


'^ 


i  ^ 

Jt 

\tt0- 


v'y; 

•.-' 

■■<<•• 

■■**-.. 

'^-^ 

■*'■-. v« 


■si'. 


4 


n 


•'«■#'  ■ 


ftS'l 


68 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


,  1 


,  \ 


-'»;. 


CHAPTER  IV. 


.  f      yr-' 


The  thirteen  United  Colonies  that  now  commenced  a 
struggle  with  the  mother  country,  not  to  obtain  a  political 
independence,  for  few  thought  of  so  great  a  change  when 
blood  was  first  shed,  but  to  regain  rights  that  were  inherent 
in  the  governing  principles  of  the  institutions  under  which 
they  had  long  lived,  and  which  were  assured  to  them  for- 
mally in  a  variety  of  ways,  possessed  but  scanty  means  to 
contend  with  a  power  like  that  of  Britain.  Their  popula- 
tion was  less  than  three  millions,  their  pecuniary  resources 
of  no  great  amount,  ^nd  their  military  preparations  were 
insignificniii.  But  the  fire  of  true  patriotism  had  been 
kindled,  and  that  which  in  other  nations  is  eflbcted  by  means 
of  laboured  combinations  and  political  management,  the 
people  of  America  were  bent  on  doing  of  their  own  volun- 
tary motion  and  united  efforts.  The  colonies  of  New  Eng- 
land, in  particular,  which  possessed  a  population  i.:;ined  to 
liberty ;  hardy,  simple,  ingenious  and  brave,  rose  as  it  might 
be  to  a  man,  and  as  this  was  the  part  of  the  country  in  which 
the  flame  broke  out,  thither  we  must  first  direct  our  atten- 
tion in  order  to  find  the  earliest  evidences  of  its  intensity. 

On  the  ocean,  the  preparations  for  the  struggle  were  even 
smaller  than  those  which  had  been  made  on  the  land. 
Congress  had  done  nothing,  and  the  provisions  for  naval 
defence  w'lich,  from  time  to  time.,  had  existed  among  the 


«^' 


*w^ 


■?^ 


,  1 


^ 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


89 


.^ 


jn- 


t 


different  colonies,  had  never  amounted  to  more  than  main- 
taining a  few  guarda-costas,  or  to  the  temporary  exertions 
for  some  expedition.  As  soon  as  the  struggle  commenced 
in  earnest,  however,  the  habits  of  the  people,  their  aptitude 
for  sea  service,  and  the  advantages  of  both  a  public  and  a 
private  nature,  that  were  to  be  obtained  from  successful 
cruising,  induced  thousands  to  turn  longing  eyes  to  an  ele- 
ment that  promised  so  many  flatteri  esults.  Nothing 
but  the  caution  of  Congress,  which  b  wa  indisposed  at 
first  to  act  as  if  general  warfare,  inst'  '  of  a  redress  of 
grievances,  was  its  object,  prevei  ed  a  wing  towards  the 
private  cruisers,  that  would  probably  have  given  the  com- 
merce of  England  a  heavier  and  a  more  sudden  blow,  than 
it  had  ever  yet  received.  But  a  different  policy  was  pursued, 
and  the  orders  to  capture,  first  issued,  were  confined  to 
vessels  bringing  stores  and  supplies  to  the  British  forces  in 
America.  It  was  as  late  as  the  10th  of  Nov.  1775,  before 
Massachusetts,  the  colony  which  was  the  seat  of  war,  and 
which  may  be  said  to  have  taken  the  lead  in  the  revolt,  es- 
tablished courts  of  admiralty,  and  enacted  laws  for  the  en- 
couragement of  nautical  enterprises.  Washington  followed 
this  example  by  granting  commissions  to  vessels  to  cruise 
in  the  vicinity  of  Boston,  with  the  object  already  stated. 
But  a  due  examination  of  the  practical  measures  of  that 
day,  will  render  it  necessary  to  separate  the  subject  into 
three  branches ;  viz,  one  that  refers  solely  to  the  exertions 
of  private,  and  frequently  of  unauthorized  adventures; 
another  that  shall  speak  of  the  proceedings  of  the  different 
colonies;  and  a  last,  which  more  properly  comprises  the 
theme  of  this  work,  that  shall  refer  to  the  policy  pursued  by 
Congress,  in  behalf  of  the  entire  nation.  In  making  these 
distinctions,  we  shall  be  compelled  to  use  brevity,  as  but  few 
authentic  documents  now  exist  for  authorities,  and  because 
the  sameness  and  unimportance  of  m^^ny  of  the  details  de- 

8* 


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VAVAL  RISTdRY. 


prive  the  subject  of  any  interest  beyond  that  which  is  con- 
nected with  a  proper  understanding  of  the  true  condition  of 
the  country. 

The  first  nautical  enterprise  that  succeeded  the  battle  of 
Lexington,  was  one  purely  of  private  adventure.    The  in- 
telligence of  this  conflict  was  brought  to  Machias  in  Maine, 
on  Saturday  the  0th  of  May,  1775.    An  armed  schooner 
called  the  Margaretta,  in  the  service  of  the  crown,  was 
lying  in  port,  with  two  sloops  under  her  convoy,  that  w#e 
loading  with  lumber  on  behalf  of  the  King's  government. 
Those  who  brought  the  news  were  enjoined  to  be  silent,  a 
plan  to  capture  the  Margaretta  having  been  immediately 
projected  among  some  of  the  more  spirited  of  the  inhabitants. 
The  next  day  being  Sunday,  it  was  hoped  that  the  officers 
of  the  latter  might  be  seized  while  in  church,  but  the  scheme 
failed  in  consequence  of  the  precipitatioh  of  those  engaged. 
Capt.  Moore,  who  commanded  the  Margaretta,  saw  the  as- 
sailants, and,  with  his  officers,  escaped  through  the  windows 
of  the  church  to  the  shore,  where  they  were  protected  by 
the  guns  of  the  schooner.    The  alarm  was  now  taken, 
springs  were  got  on  the  Margaretta's  cables,  and  a  few 
harmless  shot  were  fired  over  the  town,  by  way  of  intimi- 
dation.   After  a  little  delay,  however,  the  schooner  dropped 
down  below  the  town,  to  a  distance  exceeding  a  league. 
Here  she  was  followed,  summoned  to  surrender,  and  fired 
on  from  a  high  bank,  which  her  own  shot  could  not  reach. 
The  Margaretta  again  weighed,  and  running  into  the  bay 
at  the  confluence  of  the  two  rivers,  anchored. 

The  following  morning,  which  was  Monday,  the  11th  of 
May,  four  young  men  took  possession  of  one  of  the  lumber 
sloops,  and  bringing  her  along  side  of  a  wharf,  they  gave 
three  cheers  as  a  signal  for  volunteers.  On  explaining  that 
their  intentions  were  to  make  an  attack  on  the  Margaretta, 
a  party  of  about  thirty-five  athletic  men  was  soon  col- 


-'•r 


"^" 


^  X 


/^ 


VAVAL  BISTORT. 


•1 


M  ■' 


■  i*^ 


\k 


■I  ■■  ■ 


e«tdd.    Afrnfng  tfteniiefves  with  fire-arms,  pitck-forks,  and 
axes,  and  throwing  a  small  stock  of  provisions  into  the 
sloop,  these  spirited  freemen  made  sail  on  their  craft,  with  a 
light  breeze  at  north-west    When  the  Margaretta  observed 
the  approach  of  the  sloop  she  weighed  and  crowded  sail  to 
avoid  a  conflict,  that  was  every  way  undesirable,  as  her 
commander  was  not  yet  apprised  of  all  the  facts  that  had 
occurred  near  Boston.    In  jibing,  the  schoonor  carried 
a\i^ay  her  main-boom,  but  continuing  to  stand  on,  she  ran 
into  Holmes'  Bay,  and  took  a  spar  out  of  a  vessel  that 
was  then  lying  there.    While  these  repairs  were  making, 
the  sloop  hove  in  sight,  and  the  Margaretta  stood  out  to 
sea,  in  the  hope  of  avoiding  her.    The  wind  now  freshened, 
and  the  sloop  proved  to  be  the  better  sailer,  with  the  wind 
on  the  quart<er.    So  anxious  was  the  Margaretta  to  avoid  a 
collision,  that  Captain  Moore  now  cut  away  his  boats;  but 
finding  this  inefiectual,  and  that  his  assailants  were  fast 
closing  with  him,  he  opened  a  fire/  the  schooner  having  an 
armament  of  four  light  guns,  and  fourteen  swivels.     A 
man  was  killed  on  board  the  sloop,  which  immediately  re- 
turned the  fire  with  a  wall  piece.     This  iJ&icharge  killed 
the  man  at  the  Margaretta's  helm,  and  cleared  her  quar- 
ter-deck.   The  schooner  broached  to,  vfhen  the  sloop  gave 
a  general  discharge.    Almost  at  the  same  instant  the  two 
vessels  came  foul  of  each  other.    A  short  conflict  now 
took  place  with  musketry.  Captain  Moore  throwing  hand 
grenades  with  considerable  efiect,  in  person.    This  officer 
was  immediately  afterwards  shot  down,  however,  when  the 
people  of  the  sloop  boarded  and  took  possession  of  the 
Margaretta. 

The  loss  of  life  in  this  aflair  was  not  very  great,  though 
twenty  men,  on  both  sides,  are  said  to  have  been  killed  and 
wounded.  The  force  of  the  Margaretta,  even  in  men,  was 
much  the  most  considerable,  though  the  crew  of  no  regular 


#|». 


■:^ 


■tf- 


99 


NAVAI.  HlflTORY. 


cruiser  can  ever  equal  in  spirit  and  energy  a  body  of  volun- 
teers assembled  on  an  occasion  like  this.  There  was  origi- 
nally no  commander  in  the  sloop,  but  previously  to  engaging 
the  schooner,  Jeremiah  O'Brien  was  selected  for  that  station. 
This  affair  was  the  Lexington  of  the  seas,  for  like  that  cele- 
brated land  conflict,  it  was  a  rising  of  the  people  against  a 
regular  force,  was  characterized  by  a  long  chase,  a  bloody 
struggle,  and  a  triumph.  It  was  also  the  first  blow  struck 
on  the  water,  after  the  war  of  the  American  Revolution  had 
actually  commenced. 

The  armament  of  the  Margaretta  was  transferred  to  «i 
sloop,  and  Mr.  O'Brien  made  an  attack  on  two  small  Eng- 
lish cruisers  that  were  said  to  have  been  sent  out  from 
Halifax,  expressly  to  capture  him.  By  separating  these 
vessels,  he  took  them  both,  with  little  resistance,  and  the 
prisoners  were  all  carried  to  Watertown,  where  the  pro- 
vincial legislature  of  Massachusetts  was  then  assembled. 
The  gallantry  and  good  conduct  of  Mr.  O'Brien  was  so 
generally  admired,  that  he  was  immediately  appointed  a 
captain  in  the  marine  of  the  colony,  and  sent  on  the  coast 
with  his  two  last  prizes,  with  orders  to  intercept  vessels 
bringing  supplies  to  the  royal  forces. 

Many  adventures,  or  enterprises,  more  or  less  resembling 
these  of  Captain  O'Brien,  took  place  on  different  parts  of  the 
coast,  though  none  of  so  brilliant  and  successful  a  charac- 
ter. By  way  of  retaliation,  and  with  a  view  to  intimidate, 
the  English  Commander-in-Chief,  Admiral  Graves,  sent  a 
force  under  the  orders  of  Captain  Mowat,  to  destroy  the 
town  of  Falmouth,  and  four  hundred  buildings  were  burn- 
ed. An  attempt  to  land,  however,  was  repulsed,  when  the 
ships  retired.  This  and  simi*  iOps,  produced  the  law 
of  Massachusetts,  already  mentioned  as  having  been  passed 
in  Nov.  1775,  granting  commissions  and  directing  the 
seizure  of  British  vessels  under  certain  circumstances,  and 


1 1'. 


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.  ■'  I 


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NAVAL  HISTORT. 


f 


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•s> 


which  consequently  put  an  end  to  the  expeditions  we  have 
classed  among  the  unauthorized. 

The  colony  of  Massachusetts  had  recourse  to  energetic 
measures  for  annoying  the  enemy  on  the  coast,  and  for 
procuring  military  supplies.  Many  small  vessels  were 
fitted  out  by  that  as  well  as  by  other  colonies,  and  ships 
were  sent  in  different  directions  with  a  view  to  purchase 
the  stores  that  could  not  be  seized. 

The  want  of  powder,  in  particular,  was  so  severely  felt, 
that  all  practicable  means  were  adopted  with  a  desire  to 
obtain  it  Among  others,  Greneral  Washington  borrowed  . 
two  schooners  of  Massachusetts  and  sent  them  into  the 
gulf  of  St  Lawrence,  under  the  orders  of  Captain  Brough- 
ton,  to  intercept  two  brigs,  that  were  known  to  be  bound  to 
Quebec,  with  military  stores.  The  brigs  were  not  seen,  but 
ten  other  English  vessels  were  captured  by  Captain  Brough- 
ton,  and  all  released  as  not  coming  within  the  hostilities 
meditated  by  Congress. 

That  body,  however,  was  by  no  means  blind  to  the  im- 
portance of  naval  means  of  defence,  without  which  no  war 
can  ever  be  conducted  with  credit  and  success  by  a  country 
situated  like  America;  and  we  now  have  properly  arrived 
at  the  point  where  it  is  necessary  to  advert  to  the  acts  and 
legislation  of  the  General  Grovernment  on  this  interesting 
subject. 

Soon  after  he  assumed  the  command  of  the  troops  before 
Boston,  General  Washington,  who  so  deeply  felt  the  want  of 
munitions  of  war  of  nearly  every  description,  issued  several 
commissions  to  different  small  vessels,  giving  their  com- 
manders instructions  to  cruise  in  or  near  Massachusetts 
Bay,  in  order  to  intercept  the  British  store  ships. 

The  first  vessel  that  got  to  sea  under  this  arrangement, 
was  the  schooner  Lee,  Captain  John  Manly,  which  sailed 
from  Marblehead  near  the  close  of  November.    On  the 


:"% 


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# 


94 


VAVAL  BISTORT. 


w 


S9th,  Captain  Manly  fell  in  with  and  captured  the  English 
brig  Nancy,  having  on  board  ordnance  stores,  several  brtsv 
guns,  a  considerable  supply  of  fire-arms,  and  various  military 
sapplies.  Among  other  things  of  this  nature,  was  a  large 
mortar,  which  was  justly  deemed  an  important  addition  to  the " 
means  of  a  besieging  army;  for  up  to  this  time,  the  Ameri- 
cans before  Boston  were  greatly  in  want  of  artillery  of 
every  sort.  On  the  8th  of  December,  Captain  Manly  cap- 
tured three  more  store-ships,  and  succeeded  in  getting  all 
hm  prizes  safely  into  port 

Although  it  may  not  be  strictly  true  to  term  the  Lee,  and 
other  small  cruisers  similarly  employed,  the  first  vessels 
that  ever  belonged  to  the  General  Government  of  this 
country,  they  may  be  deemed  the  first  that  ever  actually 
sailed  with  authority  to  cruise  in  behalf  of  the  ^tire 
country. ,  But,  while  we  accord  this  precedency  to  Captain 
Manly  and  his  associates,  who  acted  under  the  orders  of 
Washington,  Congress  itself  had  not  been  altogether  idle, 
and  it  is  probable  that  the  Commander-in-Chief  took  the  step 
he  did  in  accordance  with  the  expressed  views  of  that  body. 

The  first  legislation  of  Congress  on  the  subject  of  a  navy, 
preceded  the  law  of  Massachusetts,  in  point  of  time,  though 
the  act  was  worded  with  greater  reserve.  On  the  13th  of 
October  1775,  a  law  passed  ordering  one  vessel  of  10  guns, 
and  another  of  14  guns  to  be  equipped  as  national  cruisers,  . 
and  to  be  sent  to  the  eastward,  on  a  cruise  of  three  months, 
to  intercept  supplies  for  the  royal  troops.  On  the  29th  of 
the  same  month  a  resolution  passed  denying  to  private 
ships  of  war  and  merchant  vessels  the  right  to  wear  pen- 
nants in  the  presence  of  "continental  ships,  or  vessels  of 
war,"  without  the  permission  of  the  commanding  officers  of 
the  latter.  This  law  was  framed  in  a  proper  spirit,  and 
manifested  an  intention  to  cause  the  authorised  agents  of 
the  public  on  the  high  seas,  to  be  properly  respected;  it 


1 


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HAVAL  HISTORY. 


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IV 


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excites  a  smile,  however,  when  we  remember  that  the 
whole  marine  of  the  country  consisted,  at  the  time,  of  two 
small  vessels  that  were  not  yet  equipped.  The  next  day 
another  law  passed,  authorising  the  fitting  out  of  two  more 
^cruisers,  one  to  carry  20,  and  the  other  86  guns. 

A  change  in  this  cautious  policy  was.  produced  by  the 
depredations  committed  by  the  vessels  under  the  command 
of  Captain  Mowat  When  the  intelligence  of  that  ruthless 
proceeding  reached  Philadelphia,  it  produced  a  general 
prize  law,  with  authority  to  capture  all  British  vessels  that 
were  in  any  manner  connected  with  the  pending  struggle. 
As  the  country  still  acknowledged  its  connexion  with 
the  crown,  perhaps  this  reserve  in  conducting  the  war, 
was,  in  a  measure,  due  to  sound  policy.  This  law  was 
followed  by  another  passed  December  13th,  ordering  thir- 
teen sail  of  cruisers,  to  be  constructed.  Of  the  latter 
vessels,  three  were  to  be  of  24  guns,  five  of  28,  and  five  of 
3f.  Thus  Congress,  previously  to  the  end  of  the  year  1775, 
had  authorised  a  regular  marine,  to  consist  of  seventeen 
cruisers,  varying  in  force  from  10  to  S2  guns.  The  keels  of 
the  ships  alluded  to  in  the  last  law,  were  ordered  to  be  laid, 
in  the  four  colonies  of  New  England,  in  New  York,  Penn- 
sylvania and  Maryland,  and  the  following  is  a  list  of  their 
names  and  respective  rates,  as  well  as  of  the  colony  where 
each  was  built,  viz: 

32 — Pennsylvania. 

32 — New  Hampshire. 

32 — Massachusetts. 

32 — Pennsylvania. 

32 — Rhode  Island. 

28 — Maryland. 

28 — Connecticut. 

28 — Pennsylvania. 

28— New  York. 


Washington, 

Raleigh, 

Hancock, 

Randolph, 

Warren, 

Virginia, 

Trumbull, 

Effingham, 

Congress, 


Vi/ 


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M' 


'■  ■ 


providence, 
Boston*. 
I>elaware, 
Montgomery, 


VAVAL  WSTOIir. 

28— Rhode  Island. 
24 — Massachusetts. 
24 — Pennsylvania. 
24— New  York. 


M 


^   I 


These  vessels  aj^ar  to  have  been  judiciously  appointed 
in  order  to  effect  the  object  in  view.  The  resources  of 
America  did  not  admit  of  the  construction  of  ships  of  a  size 
fit  to  contend  with  the  fleets  of  England,  and  had  the  colo- 
nies been  in  a  condition  even  to  make  such  an  exhibition  of 
their  power,  H^ie  time  necessary  to  organize  a  proper  ma« 
rine,  the  want  of  navy  yards,  and  the  impossibility  of  pro- 
curing in  season,  naval  stores  of  the  required  quality,  would 
have  prevented  them  from  attempting  it.  The  ships  ordered 
were  large  enough  to  resist  the  small  cruisers  of  the  crown, 
and  were  well  adapted  to  destroy  convoys,  and  to  capture 
transports  and  store-ships.  We  are  not,  however,  to  esti- 
mate their  force  by  the  manner  of  rating,  as  compared 
with  similar  rates  in  our  own  time,  the  art  of  ship-building 
and  the  mode  of  equipping  vessels  of  war,  having  undergone 
great  changes  since  the  commencement  of  the  American  Re- 
volution. Frigates,  at  that  day,  were  usually  vessels  varying 
from  six  hundred  to  a  thousand  tons,  and  rarely  carried  on 
their  main  deck  batteries,  guns  of  a  metal  heavier  than 
eighteen  pounders.  There  was  usually  no  spar-deck,  but 
the  forecastle  and  quarter  deck  were  connected  by  gang- 
ways, with  gratings  to  cover  a  part,  or  even  all  of  the  in- 
termediate space.  The  armaments  above  were  light 
sixes,  nines,  or  twelves,  according  to  the  respective  rates, 
but  were  commonly  of  trifling  amount.  Carronades  had 
not  then  been  invented,  though  they  first  came  into  use 
during  this  war.  This  gun  obtains  its  name  from  the  cir- 
cumstance of  its  having  been  been  first  made  at  the  village 
of  Carron,  in  Scotland,  a  place  celebrated  for  its  foundries. 


& 


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IVAVAL  HBTORY. 


VI 


r. 


as  the  bayonet  derivei  its  appellation  from  BayootMr  in 
France.  We  believe  it  was  first  used  with  effect,  in  the 
battle  between  Lord  Rodney  and  the  Comte  de  Grasset 
when  it  was  found  to  be  an  arm  of  more  efficiency  than  had 
been  generally  anticipated.  For  some  time  its  use  was  con- 
fined to  the  English,  nor  did  it  make  its  way  into  the  Ameri- 
can marine»  untilthe  commencement  of  the  present  century, 
or  the  very  dose  of  the  last.  Most  of  the  ships  mentioned 
in  the  list  we  have  given,  were  armed  with  nines  and 
twelves,  having  sixes,  and  even  fours,  on  their  quarter>^ 
decks  and  forecastles.  Vi  e  beUeve  there  was  no  eighteen 
pounder  frigate  constructed  under  tife  laws  of  177ft. 

Bad  as  was  the  condition  of  the  Colonies,  as  respects 
naval  stores,  and  the  munitions  of  war,  the  country 
might  be  said  to  be  e^en  worse  off  for  persons  suited  to 
form  a  navy  list  There  was  no  lack  of  competent  naviga- 
tors, or  of  brave  seamen,  but  the  high  moral  qualities  which 
are  indispensable  to  the  accomplished  officer,  were  hardly 
to  be  expected  atjnong  those  who  had  received  all  their 
training  in  the  rude  and  imperfect  schools  of  the  merchant 
service.  Still,  as  a  whole,  the  merchant  seamen  of  America 
were  of  a  class  superior  to  those  of  most  other  nations;  the 
very  absence  of  a  regular  marine,  which  induced  young 
men  of  enterprise  to  incur  the  dangers  of  the  seas  in  this 
mode  in  preference  to  remaining  on  shore,  ar^^  the  moral 
superiority  of  the  level  of  the  population,  producing  such  a 
result.  It  has  been  said  that  the  gentry  of  the  country  had 
begun  to  place  their  sons  in  the  British  marine,  previously 
to  the  commencement  of  this  war;  but,  while  many  instan- 
ces occurred  in  which  Americans  threw  up  their  commis- 
sions in  the  British  army,  in  preference  to  serving  against 
their  native  land,  very  few  of  those  who  had  taken  service 
in  the  navy,  followed  their  example.  The  second  nature 
that  the  seaman  acquires  in  time,  appears  to  have  drawn 
the  cord  too  tight  to  suffer  it  to  be  snapped  even  by  the 

Vol.  I— 9 


<» 


*  \<- 


'  "^Sbv" 


'<»-sm,~Ji.J>,  tm 


^w 


^r7w 


^^T^ 


98 


NAVAL  HMTOBT. 


violent  struggles  of  a  civil  wir,  and  most  of  the  young  men 
who  were  born  in  the  colonies,  and  who  found  themselves 
arrayed  against  their  proper  country,  on  board  the  ships  of 
the  king,  continued  to  serve  with  the  undiminished  zeal  and 
singleness  of  purpose,  that  is  apt  to  distinguish  the  fidelity 
of  a  seaman  to  his  flag.*  The  Committee  of  Congress,  to 
which  the  duties  of  a  Navy  Department  were  assigned,  was 
compelled,  in  consequence  of  these  diflSoulties,  to  select  the 
new  corps  of  officers,  principally,  from  such  conspicuous 
persons  among  the  masters  and  mates  of  merchant  ships  as 
the  country  afforded;  a  few  of  those  who  had  been  trained 
in  the  English  marine,  but  who  had  left  it  previously  to  the 
struggle,  excepted.  The  result  was  such  as  might  have 
been  anticipated.  While  many  gallant  and  suitable  men 
were  chosen,  some  of  the  corps  had  little  to  recommend 
them  besides  their  practical  knowledge  of  seamanship. 
These  were  valuable  qualities,  certainly,  but  the  habits  of 
subordination,  the  high  feelings  of  personal  pride  and  self- 
respect  that  create  an  esprit  de  corpsy  and  the  moral  courage 
and  lofty  sentiments  that  come  in  time,  to  teach  the  trained 
officer  to  believe  any  misfortune  preferable  to  professional  dis'* 
grace,  were  not  always  to  be  expected  under  such  circum- 
stances. In  short,  'a  service  <:reated  in  this  informal  manneri 
must  necessarily  depend  more  on  accidental  and  natural 
qualities  for  its  success,  than  on  that  acquired  chariacter 
which  has  been  found  to  be  so  competent  a  substitute,  and 
which  is  altogether  indispensable  when  there  is  a  demand 
for  the  complicated  and  combined  movements  that  can 
alone  render  any  arm  efficient  throughout  a  series  of  years. 
It  is  true,  that  the  colonies  had  possessed  an  irregular 
school  for  the  training  of  officers,  in  their  provincial  crui- 
sers, or  guarda-QfMtas,  but  it  was  neither  sufficiently  ex- 


I 


't^^ 


I 


*  We  dkn  discover  but  a  single  instance  of  an  American's  quitting  the 
Snglish  navy  on  account  of  the  war,  though  it  is  probable  more  occurred. 


'r«- 


'D. 


•«V' 


KAVAL  HISTORT. 


90 


ti 


i 


^1 


tended,  nor  sufficiently  disciplined,  to  afford  the  supply  that 
was  now  demanded  by  the  extraordinary  exigencies  of  the 
times. 

The  documents  connected  with  the  early  history  of  the 
navy  of  the  oouhtry,  were  never  kept  with  suffioient  method, 
and  the  few  that  did  exist  have  become  much  scattered  and 
lost,  in  consequence  of  there  having  been  no  regular  navy 
department ;  the  authority  of  this  branch  of  the  government 
having  been  exercised  throughout  the  whole  war,  by  Com- 
mittees and  Boards,  the  members  of  which  have  probably 
retained  many  documents  of  interest,  as  vouchers  to  authen- 
ticate  their  own  proceedings. 

Among  other  defects  it  has  become  impossible  to  estab- 
lish, in  all  cases,  who  did  and  who  did  not  actually  serve  in 
the  marine  of  the  United  States,  officers  so  frequently  pass- 
ing from  the  privateers  into  the  public  vessels,  and  from  the 
public  vessels  to  the  privateers,  as  to  leave  this  important 
branch  of  our  subject  involved  in  much  obscurity.  Before 
we  enter  more  fully  into  the  details  on  which  reliance  can 
be  placed,  it  may  be  well,  also,  to  explain  that  the  officers 
in  the  navy  of  the  Confederation  derived  their  authority 
from  different  sources,  a  circumstance  that  adds  to  the  diffi- 
culties just  mentioned.  In  a  good  many  instances  Congress 
made  the  appointments  by  direct  resolutions  of  its  own,  as 
will  appear  in  the  case  of  the  officers  first  named.  Subse- 
quently, the  Marine  Committee  possessed  this  power;  and, 
in  the  end,  not  only  did  the  diplomatic  agents  of  the  Go- 
vernment abroad  exercise  this  high  trust,  but  even  the  com- 
manders of  squadrons  and  of  ships  were  put  in  possession  of 
blank  commissions  to  be  filled  at  their  particular  discretion. 
It  will  easily  be  Understood,  how  much  this,  looseness  in 
managing  an  interest  of  so  much  mooient,  increases  thew 
embarrassment  in  obtaining  the  truth. 

The  brave  men  who  acted  under  the  authority  of  Wash- 
ington, at  the  commencement  of  the  contest,  were  not  in  the 


-'*•,, 


A^'if:l,A 


% 


100 


WAVAL  HISTORT. 


ntvy,  ai  ii  evident  from  the  oircumitance  that  aeveral  o( 
them  obtained  rank  in  the  aervice,  ai  the  reward  of  their 
conduct,  while  cruising  in  the  sort  of  semi-official  veaaelt 
that  have  already  been  mentioned.    It  has  been  said,  that 
the  first  regular  legislation  of  Congress,  in  reference  to  a 
marine,  with  a  view  to  resist  the  aggressions  of  the  British 
Parliament,  dates  from  a  resolution  of  that  body,  passed  the 
18th  of  October,  1775.    This  resolution  directed  a  com- 
mittee of  three,  Messrs.  Deane,  Langdon  and  Gadsden,  to 
fit  out  two  swift  sailing  vessels,  the  one  of  ten,  and  the  other 
of  fourteen  guns,  to  cruise  to  the  eastward,  to  intercept  the 
suppliea  and  transports  intended  for  the  British  army  at 
Boston.    Under  this  law  it  is  believed  that  a  brig  called 
the  Lexington,  and  a  sloop  named  the  Providence  were 
equipped;  though  it  does  not  appear  that  either  went  on  the 
particular  duty  named  in  the  resohition.    On  the  80th  of  the 
same  month,  the  committee  was  increased  to  seven,  and  a  ship 
of  36  guns,  and  another  of  20,  were  ordered  to  be  provided. 
Under  this  law  ihe  Alfred  and  Columbus  were  purchased, 
though  neither  was  of  the  force  implied  by  the  highest  rate 
named.    The  first  of  these  ships  is  said  to  have  had  a  main- 
deck  battery  of  20  nines,  while  her  armament  on  the  quar- 
ter-deck and  forecastle,  varied  in  the  course  of  her  service, 
from  ten  guns  to  two.    At  the  end  of  her  career  she  carried 
no  guns  above.    Less  is  known  of  the  Columbua|but  she  is 
believed  to  have  had  a  gun  deck  battery  of  18  ninaa.    Both 
were  clumsy  and  crank  ships,  and  neither  proved  to  be  a 
very  good  sailer. 

On  the  18th  of  December,  of  the  same  year.  Congress 
directed  thirteen  ships  of  war  to  be  built,  and  the  next 
day  the  Marine  Committee  was  increased,  so  as  to  contain 
one  member  from  .each  colony;  all  the  proceedings  that 
have  yet  been  mentioned,  having  been  directed  rather  to  a 
redress  of  grievances,  than  to  independence. 

It  will  aid  in  understanding  how  complicated  the  busio 


V, 


,.jrL-     ,.^,I 


■M,  r 


If  AVAL  HISTORT. 


* 


101 


nesi  of  the  navy  became,  if  we  here  give  a  brief  outline  of 
the  various  modes  that  were  adopted  in  managing  iti 
affain.  To  the  committee  last  named,  very  extensive 
powers  wf(re  given;  but  in  November,  1776,  a  *< Cdntinental 
Navy  Board,"  of  three  competent  persons,  was  established 
as  subordinate  to  this  committee;  and  soon  after,  this  "Navy 
Board'*  was  divided  into  two;  one  being  termed  the  '* East- 
ern Board,"  and  the  other  the  "  Board  of  the  Middle  Dis- 
trict." A  large  portion  of  the  executive  functions  of  the 
"Marine  Committee"  devolved  on  these  two  "Boards." 
In  October,  1779,  this  mode  of  proceeding  was  changed, 
and  a  "  Board  of  Admiralty"  was  established,  consisting  of 
three  commissioners  who  were  not  in  Congress,  and  two 
that  were.  Of  this  board  any  three  were  competent  to 
act  In  January,  1781,  James  Reed  was  appointed,  by 
special  resolution,  to  manag<f  the  afiairs  of  the  "Navy 
Board"  in  the  "Middle  Department;"  and  in  February  of 
the  same  year,  Alexander  McDougall,  a  Major  General  in 
the  army,  who  had  been  a  seaman  in  his  youth,  was  chosen 
"Secretary  of  the  Marine."  In  August  of  the  same  year, 
the  entire  system  was  changed,  by  the  appointment  of  an 
"Agent  of  the  Marine,"  who  had  full  control  of  the  service, 
subject  to  the  resolutions  of  Congress,  and  who  superseded 
all  the  committees,  boards,  and  agents,  that  had  been  pre- 
viously established  by  law.  Here  closed  the  legislation  of 
Congress  on  this  branch  of  the  subject,  though  we  shall  add 
that  the  duties  of  "  Agent  of  Marine,"  subsequently  devolved 
on  the  "Superintendent  of  Finances,"  the  celebrated 
Robert  Morris,  a  gentleman,  who  appears,  throughout  the 
war,  to  have  had  more  control  over  the  affairs  of  the  navy, 
than  any  other  civilian  in  the  country.  To  return  to  the 
order  of  time. 

On  the  22nd,  of  December,  1775,  Congress  passed  these 
resolutions,  viz : — 

"Resolved,  that  the  following  naval  officers  be  appointed : 


^'•'0^'' 


4! 


■■^' 


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*!i^  ■  ■ 


'    # 

•4 


%.i- 


-^  -m:, 


102 


NAVAL  HISTORr. 


Ezekiel  Hopkins,  Esquire,  Commander-in-Chief.      '  •  ,0. 

Dudley  Saltonstall,  Captain  of  the  Alfred. 

Abraham  Whipple,      do.      do.    Columbus. 

Nicholas  Biddle,  do.      do.    Andrea  Doria. 

John  B.  Hopkins,         do.      do.    Cabot.      -  ..r  v..  .  .  t 

First  Lieutenants,  John  Paul  Jones,  Rhodes  Arnold, 

Stansbury,  Hoysted  Hacker,  Jonathan  Pitcher.  j^ 

Second  Lieutenants,  Benjamin  Seabury,  Joseph  Olney, 
Elisha  Warner,  Thomas  Weaver, McDougall. 

Third  Lieutenants,  John  Fanning,  Ezekiel  Burroughs, 
Daniel  Vaughan. 

"  Resolved,  that  the  pay  of  the  Commander-in-Chief  of 
the  fleet,  be  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  dollars  a  month.'' 

By  this  law  it  will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Hopkins  was  not  made 
a  captain,  but  the  **  Commander-in-Chief,''  a  rank  that  was 
intended  to  correspond  in  the  navy,  to  that  held  by  Wash- 
ington in  the  army.  His  official  appellation,  among  seamen, 
appears  to  have  been  that  of  '^Commodore,"  though  he  was 
frequently  styled  "Admiral,"  in  the  papers  of  the  period. 
The  captains  were  particularly  named  to  the  respective 
ships,  and  the  construction  put  on  the  law  was,  that  the 
lieutenants  should  be  attached  to  the  different  vessels^  in  the 
order  in  which  both  were  named.  >  ■•     •  ' 

By  this  resolution,  or  law,  it  would  appear  that  two  brigs, 
the  Andrea  Doria,  and  the  Cabot,  had  been  purchased, 
most  probably  by  the  Marine  Committee,  previously  to  its 
passage.  Of  the  precise  force  of  the  latter  vessel  no  authen- 
tic account  can  be  found,  but  it  is  thought  to  have  been  16 
sixes.  It  appears  by  a  letter  of  Paul  Jones,  however,  that 
the  armament  of  the  Doria  was  14  fours,  and  the  Cabot  may 
have  been  of  the  same  force. 

The  equipment  of  all  the  vessels  mentioned,  as  well  as  of 
two  or  three  more  of  less  size,  was  going  on  in  the  autumn 
of  1775,  the  appointment  of  their  officers  was  made  at  the 
close  of  the  year,  and  the  first  ensign  ever  shown  by 


}^ 


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t^ 


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t  ? 


r 


NAVAL  RldTOHir. 


108 


a  regular  American  man  of  war,  was  hoisted  in  the  Dela- 


ware, on  board  the  Alfred,  by  the  hands  of  Paul  Jones, 
sometime  about  the  last  of  December.  This  event  could 
not  have  occurred  previously  to  the  vote  appointing 
a  commander  in  chief,  as  we  are  expressly  told  that  the 
flag  was  shown  when  that  officer  first  impaired  on  board  his 
ship.  What  that  ensign  was,  is  not  now  certainly  known, 
but  it  is  thought  to  have  been  a  device  representing  a  pine 
tree,  with  a  rattlesnake  about  to  strike,  coiled  at  its  root, 
with  the  motto  "  don't  tread  on  me."  It  is  certain  that  such 
a  flag  was  used,  at  the  commencement  of  the  Revolution, 
and  on  board  some  of  the  vessels  of  war,  though  whether 
this  was  the  flag  worn  by  the  Alfred  is  not  quite  so  clear. 
Most  of  the  privateers  of  the  period  either  wore  the  arms 
of  the  colony  from  which  they  sailed,  and  by  which  they 
were  authorized  to  cruise,  or  they  also  showed  devices  of 
their  own,  according  to  the  conceits  of  the  different  cap- 
;:ins  and  owners.  It  was  not  until  1777,  that  Congress 
formally  adopted  the  present  national  colours. 
.  The  first  regular  cruisers  that  ever  got  to  sea  under  the 
new  government  were  the  Hornet  10,  and  Wasp  8,  a  sloop 
and  a  schooner  that  had  been  equipped  by  the  Marine  Com- 
mittee in  Baltimore,  and  which  sailed  in  November,  to  join 
the  squadron  under  Commodore  Hopkins,  in  the  Delaware. 
This  passage,  however,  cannot  properly  be  called  a  cruise. 
For  the  first  of  these  we  must  refer  to  the  Lexington  14,  a 
little  brig,  the  command  of  which  had  been  given  to  John 
Barry,  a  ship-master  of  Philadelphia,  of  credit  and  skill. 
By  other  statements,  the  squadron  under  the  orders  of  Com- 
modore Hopkins,  got  out  before  the  Lexington;  but  we 
are  disposed  to  believe  that  this  is  an  error;  not  only  because 
the  sailing  of  the  Lexington  appears  to  be  asserted  on  the 
most  probable  authority,  but  because  it  is  more  reasonable 
to  believe,  that,  as  between  vessels  fitted  in  the  same  place, 
and  nQar  the  same  time,  a  single  cruiser  could  precede  a 


■'^ 


"^^ 


f^' 


i^ 


104 


KAVAL  HISTORT. 


squadron.  The  Lexington  was  purchased  earlier  than  the 
Alfred,  and,  in  the  nature  of  things,  was  more  readily 
equipped.  The  honour  has  long  been  claimed  for  Capt. 
Barry,  and,  on  as  close  an  examination  of  the  facts,  as  our 
means  will  allow,  we  believe  it  to  be  his  due.  The  Lex- 
ington  must  have  left  the  Gapes  of  the  Delaware  late  in 
January,  or  early  in  February,  1770,  and  her  orders  were 
to  cruise  to  the  southward.  ,^ 

The  plans  of  Congress  had  changed  between  W6  time 
when  the  vessels  were  ordered  and  that  on  which  they 
were  ready  for  service.  Commodore  Hopkins  was  accord-* 
ingly  directed,  also,  to  proceed  to  the  southward,  with  a 
view  to  act  against  the  naval  force,  which  was  then  rava^ 
ging  the  coast  of  Virginia,  under  Lord  Dunmore.  The 
squadron  had  got  into  the  Bay,  and  rendezvoused  under 
Cope  Henlopen,  early  in  February.  It  consisted  of  the 
Alfred  24,  Columbus  20,  Doria  14,  Cabot  14,  Providence 
12,  Hornet  10,  Wasp  8,  and  Fly  despatch  vessel.  With 
this  force  Commodore  Hopkins  got  to  sea  on  the  17th  of 
February.  On  the  night  of  the  10th,  as  the  squadron  was 
steering  south  with  a  fresh  breeze,  the  Hornet  and  Fly 
parted  company,  and  did  not  join  again  during  the  cruise. 
No  vessel  of  any  importance  was  met  until  the  ships  reached 
Abaco,  in  the  Bahamas,  where  the  squadron  had  been  or- 
dered to  rendezvous.  Here  Commodore  Hopkins  determined 
to  make  a  descent  on  New  Providence,  where  it  was  under- 
stood a  considerable  amount  of  military  stores  were  col- 
lected. For  this  purpose,  a  body  of  300  men,  marines  and 
landsmen,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Nichols,  the  senior 
marine  officer  of  the  service,  were  put  into  two  sloops,  with 
the  hope  of  surprising  the  place.  As  the  squadron  approached 
the  town,  however,  an  alarm  was  given,  when  the  sloops 
were  sent  in,  with  the  Providence  12,  and  Wasp  8,  to  cover 
the  landing.  This  duty  was  handsomely  performed,  and 
Capt  Nichols  got  complete  possession  of  the  forts,  and  entire 


^"^: 


'  -vl> 


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^ 


<t 


m 


■!■! 


■%■''  e 


4     -  -^ 


P'f* 


^^: 


VAV4L  HISTORT. 


ld& 


command  of  the  place,  in  the  course  of  the  afteraoon,  and  of 
the  following  morning,  after  a  very  insignificant  resistance. 
Unfortunately,  the  governor,  aware  of  the  motive  of  the 
descent,  found  means  to  send  away  a  considerable  quantity 
of  powder,  in  the  course  of  the  night.  Near  a  hundred 
cannon,  and  a  large  quantity  of  other  stores,  however,  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  Americans.  On  this  occasion,  the 
first  th^  ever  occurred  in  the  regular  American  Navy,  the 
marineti  under  Capt  Nichols,  appear  to  have  behaved  with 
a  spirit  and  steadiness  that  have  distinguished  the  corps, 
from  that  hour  down  to  the  present  moment 

After  retaining  possession  a  few  days.  Commodore  Hop- 
kins left  New  Providence  on  the  17th  of  March,  bringing 
away  the  governor  and  one  or  two  men  of  note  with  him, 
and  shaping  his  course  to  the  northward.  Some  of  the 
smaller  vessels  appear  to  have  left  him,  as  he  proceeded 
along  the  coast,  but,  with  most  of  his  force  in  company,  he 
arrived  off  the  east  end  of  Long  Island,  early  in  April.  On 
the  4th,  he  captured  a  tender  of  six  guns,  commanded  by  a 
son  of  Commodore  Wallace,  and  on  the  5th  he  fell  in  with 
and  took  the  British  Bomb  Brig  Bolton  6,  Lieut  Snead. 

About  one  o'clock  of  the  morning  of  the  6tfa  of  April,  the 
squadron  being  a  little  scattered,  a  large  ship  was  discovered 
steering  towards  the  Alfred.  The  vfitid  was  light,  and  the 
sea  quite  smooth,  and  about  two,  the  stranger  having  gone 
about,  the  Cabot  closed  with  her,  and  hailed.  Soon  after  the 
latter  fired  a  broadside.  The  first  discharge  of  this  little  ves- 
sel appears  to  have  been  well  directed,  but  her  metal  was 
altogether  too  light  to  contend  with  an  enemy  like  the  one 
she  had  assailed.  In  a  few  minutes  she  was  compelled  to 
haul  aboard  her  tacks,  to  get  from  under  the  guns  of  her 
antagonist,  having  had  her  captain  severely  wounded,  her 
master  killed,  and  a  good  many  of  her  people  injured. 

The  Alfred  now  took  the  place  of  the  Cabot,  ranging 
handsomely  along  side  of  the  enemy  and  delivering  her 


'*: 


Wit- 


*<^ 


(% 


♦•■ 


ibe 


NAVAL  HttTORY. 


,M 


fire.  Soon  aAer,  the  Providence  got  under  the  stern  of  the 
Coglish  ship,  and  the  Andrea  Doria  was  enabled  to  come 
near  enough  to  do  some  service.  The  Columbus  was  kept , 
at  a  distance  for  want  of  whid.  After  a  smart  cannonade 
of  near  an  hour,  the  block  and  wheel  rope  of  the  Alfred 
were  shot  away,  and  the  ship  broached  to ;  by  which  acci- 
dent the  enemy  was  enabled  to  rake  her  with  effect.  Being 
satisfied,  however,  that  victory  was  impossible,  the^PJikglish 
commander  profited  by  this  accident,  to  put  his  helm  upr 
and  brought  all  the  American  vessels  astern.  Sailing  bet- 
ter than  any  of  the  squadron,  most  of  which  were  deep,  as 
well  as  dull,  in  consequence  of  the  cannon  and  stores  they 
had  taken  on  board,  the  enemy  slowly  but  steadily  gained 
on  his  pursuers,  though  a  warm  cannonade  was  kept  up  by 
both  parties  until  past  day-light  By  six  o'clock  the  ships 
had  got  so  far  to  the  eastward,  that  Commodore  Hopkins 
felt  apprehensive  the  firing  would  bring  out  the  Newport 
squadron  against  him,  and  seeing  little  chance  of  overtaking' 
the  chase,  he  made  a  signal  for  his  vessels  to  haul  by  the 
wind.  Capturing  a  tender  that  was  in  company  with  the 
ship  that  had  escaped,  the  squadron  now  went  into  New 
London,  the  port  to  whieh  it  was  bound. 

The  vessel  that  engaged  the  American  ships,  on  this  occa- 
sion, was  the  Glasgow  20,  Capt  Tyringham  Howe,  with  a 
crew  of  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  souls.  In  every  thing 
but  the  number  of  her  men  the  Glasgow  was  probably  supe- 
rior to  any  one  ship  in  the  American  squadron,  but  her 
close  encounter  with,  and  eventual  escape  from,  so  many 
vessels,  reflected  great  credit  on  her  commander.  She  was 
a  good  deal  cut  up,  notwithstanding,  and  had  four  men 
killed  and  wounded.  On  the  other  hand,  both  the  Alfred 
and  the  Cabot  suffered  materially,  the  former  from  having 
been  raked,  and  the  latter  from  lying  close  along  side  & 
vessel  so  much  her  superior  in  force.    The  Alfred  and 


•#■ 


'iir« 


;  jrrf,  \  i^j^  ■  *J:t^  -:*  « 


7,  JB>- 


■IV, 


m. 


^T^l'.- 


.      -<'  '^.•^-' 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


l(ff 


Cabot  lost  23  men  killed  and  wounded,  and  one  man  on 
board  the  Columbus  lost  an  arm  while  in  chase. 

The  result  of  this  first  essay  of  the  American  navy,  when 
announced,  caused  much  exultation  in  the  country.  The 
affair  was  represented  as  a  sort  of  victory,  in  which  three 
light  vessels  of  war  had  been  taken,  and  one  of  force  com- 
pelled to  ruUi  A  short  time,  however,  served  to  correct 
these.OBprs,  dnd  public  opinion  probably  went  as  far  in  the 
opposi^ettreme,  where  it  would  seem  to  have  been  perma- 
nently fixed,  by  subsequent  historians.  The  g/eat  error  of 
Commodore  Hopkins  was  in  sufiering  so  small  a  vessel  as 
th6  Cabot  to  run  close  along  side  of  a  shif)  of  the  Glasgow's 
furce,  when  the  first  attack  should  have  been  made  by  the 
Alfred.  Had  the  Cabot  delivered  two  or  th^ree  as  efficient 
broadsides  from  a  favourable  position,  as  the  first  she  fired, 
while  the  Glasgow  was  occi^ied  by  a  heavier  ship,  it  is 
highly  probable  the  enemy  would  have  been  capturedJ^* 
Commodore  Hopkins  betrayed  no  want  of  spirit,  but  hi^ 
crew  and  vessel  were  much  inferior  to  the  regularly  and 
loqg-trained  people  of  a  cruiser,  and  to  a  ship  properly  con- 
structed for  war.  The  lightness  of  the  wind,  and  the  ob- 
scurity of  a  night  action,  contributed  to  the  disasters,  as, 
in  such  circumstances,  when  the  ship  broached  to,  it 
required  time  to  get  her  under  the  command  of  her  helm 
again.  The  reason  for  not  continuing  the  chase  was  suffi- 
cient, and  it  is  now  known  that  the  English  squadron  did 
come  out  of  Newport  as  soon  as  the  Glasgow  appeared,- 
and  there  can  be  little  doubt  that  Commodore  Hopkins 
would  have  lost  all  his  dull  sailing  vessels^  had  he  gone 
much  farther  in  pursuit.  It  ought  to  be  added,  thatUhe 
small  pox,  then  a  malady  of  fatal  effect,  had  broken  out  in 
the  ships  while  they  were  at  New  Providence,  and  it  proba- 
bly had  an  influence  on  their  efficiency.  The  Doria,  in 
particular,  was  known  to  be  nearly  useless,  from  the  num- 
ber of  cases  she  had  on  board. 


Pi: 


.y4- 


■ 


r 


106 


■■i^-\ 


HAVAL  HltTORT. 


This  was  hardly  the  feeling  of  the  country,  notwithstand- 
ing,  for  nations  are  seldom  just  under  disgrace,  imaginary  or 
real.  Commodore  Hopkins  was  left  in  command  some 
time  longer,  it  is  true,  and  he  carried  the  squadron  to  Rhoide 
Island,  a  few  weeks  after  his  arrival,  but  he  never  made 
another  cruise  in  the  navy.  On  the  16th  of  October,  Con- 
gress passed  a  vote  of  censure  on  him,  for  not  performing 
the  duties  on  which  he  had  been  sent  to  the  southward,  and 
on  the  2d  of  January,  1777,  by  a  vote  of  that  body,  he  was 
formally  dismissed  from  the  service.  No  commander  in 
chief  was  subsequently  appointed,  though  such  a  measure 
was  {^commended  to  the  national  legislature  by  a  commit- 
tee  of  its  own  body,  August  24th,  1781. 

As  an  offset  to  the  escape  of  the  Glasgow,  the^  Lexington, 
Capt  Barry,  a  small  brig  with  an  armament  of  16  four 
pounders,  fell  in  with  the  £dward,  an  armed  tender  of  the 
''Liverpool,  on  the  17th  of  April,  off  the  capes  of  Virginia, 
and  after  a  close  and  spirited  action  of  near  an  hour,  ca^ 
tured  her.  The  Lexington  had  four  of  her  crew  killed  and 
'  wounded,  while  the  Edward  was  cut  nearly  to  pieces,  and 
met  with  a  very  heavy  comparative  ioss  in  men. 

It  may  better  connect  the  history  of  this  little  brig,  if  we 
add  here,  that  she  went  to  the  West  Indies  the  following 
October,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Hallock,  and  on  her 
return  was  captured  near  the  spot  where  i^he  had  taken 
the  Liverpool's  tender,  by  the  Pearl  frigate.  It  was  blow- 
ing fresh  at  the  time«  and,  after  taking  out  of  his  prize  a 
few  officers,  and  putting  a  crew  on  board  her,  the  com- 
mander of  the  Pearl  ordered  her  to  follow  his  own  ship. 
Tlvit  night  the  Americans  rose,  and  overpowering  the  prize 
crew,  they  carried  the  brig  into  Baltimore.  The  Lexington 
was  immediately  recommissioned,  under  the  orders  of 
Capt.  Johnston,  and  in  March  of  the  succeeding  year,  she 
sailed  for  Europe,  where  we  shall  soon  have  ooeasion  to 
note  her  movements. 


i^S)i' 


V 


WAVAL  HISTORY.  _. 


100 


CHAPTER  V. 


« 


Whek  the  American  squadron  had  got  into  Newport  it 
became  useless,  for  a  time>  from  a  want  of  men.  Many  of 
the  seamen  had  entered  for  the  cruise  only,  and  Congress 
having  authorized  the  capture  of  ail  British  vessels  in 
March,  so  many  persons  were  now  induced  to  go  on  board 
the  privateers,  that  crews  were  not  to  be  obtained.  It  is  « 
singular  feature  of  the  times,  too,  that  the  sudden  chedt  to 
navigation,  and  the  delay  in  authorizing  general  captures, 
had  driven  a  great  many  of  the  seamen  into  the  army.  It 
is  also  easy  to  imagine  that  the  service  was  out  of  favour, 
after  the  affair  with  the  Glasgow,  for  by  events  as  trifling  as 
this,  are  Jlhe  opinions  of  ordinary  men  usually  influenced. 

It  has  been  said  that  the  vessels  were  carried  to  Provi- 
dence, Rhode  Island,  and  soldiers  had  to  be  borrowed  from 
the'  army,  in  order  to  effect  even  this.  At  Providence, 
courts  martial,  the  usuieil  attendants  of  military  misfortunes, 
were  assembled  to  judge  the  delinquents.  Capt.  Whipple, 
of  the  Columbus  was  tried  for  not  aiding  the  Alfred  in  the 
action  with  the  Glasgow,  and  seems  to  have  been  acquitted. 
Capt.  Hazard,  of  the  Providence,  was  cashiered,  though  it 
does  not  appear  on  what  charge.  ^ 

The  day  after  the  dismissal  of  her  former  commander, 
or  May  the  10th,  1770,  Paul  Jones  was  directed  by  Com- 
modore Hopkins  to  take  charge  of  the  Providence,  and  to 
carry  the  borrowed  soldiers  to  New  York,  there  to  enlist  a 
Vol.  L— 10  -  . 


'M- 


110 


If  AVAL  MISTORy. 


-I 


n- 


regular  orow,  and  return  to  the  station.    This  duty  having 
been  successfully  performed,    the    sloop  was  hove    out, 
cleaned,  refitted,  armed  and  manned  for  a  cruise.    On  the 
18th  of  June,  Capt.  Jones  sailed  from  Newport  with  a  con- 
voy loaded  with  military  stores,  which  he  saw  into  Long 
Island  Sound,  a  service  attended  with  risk  on  account  of 
the  numerous  cruisers  of  the  enemy.   While  thus  employed, 
Capt.  Jones  covered  the  escape  of  a  brig  from  St.  Domingo, 
laden  also  with  military  stores,  and  bound  to  New  York. 
This  brig.was  soon  uAer  bought  into  the  servjce,  and  be- 
came the  Hamden  14.    After  performing  this  duty,  the 
Providence  was  employed  iu  cruising  between  Boston  and 
the  'Delaware,  and  she  even  ran  as  far  south  as  Ber- 
muda.   On  the  1st  of  September,  ivhile  on  the  latter  ser- 
vice, this  little  sloop  made  five  sail,  one  of  which  was  mis- 
taken for  a  large  merchantman.    On  getting  near  the  latter 
vesiel,  she  proved  to  be  a  light  English  frigate,  and  a  fast 
sailer.    After  a  chase  of  four  hours  by  the  wind,  and  in  a 
cross  sea,  the  enemy  had  so  far  gained  on  the  Providence 
as  to  be  within  musket  shot,  on  her  lee-quarter.    The  stran- 
ger had  opened  with  her  chase  guns  from  the  first,  and  the 
Providence  now  returned  the  fire  with  her  light  four  poun- 
ders, showing  her  colours.    Perceiving  that  capture,  or 
some  bold  expedient  must  soon  determine  his  fate,  Capt. 
Jones  kept  edging  away,  until  he  had  got  rather  on  tAa  lee 
bow  of  the  enemy,  when  the  Providence  suddenly  went  off 
dead  before  the  wind,  setting  every  thing  that  would  draw. 
This  unexpected  mancBUvre  brought  the  two  vessels  within 
pistol  shot,  but  the  English  ship  having  been  taken  com- 
pletely by  surprise,  before  she  could  get  her  light  sails  set, 
the  sloop  was  nearly  out  of  reach  of  grape.    The  Provi- 
dence sailed  the  best  before  the  wind,  and  in  less  than  an 
hour  she  had  drawn  quite  beyond  the  reach  of  shot,  and 
finally  escaped.    This  affair  has  been  represented  as  an  en- 
gagement of  several  hours  with  the  Solebay  28,  but,  as  has 


,  '^,\ 


'M 


-t% 


■^- 


KAVAL  HISTORr. 


Ul 


i-: 


I 


an  vV 


been  said,  it  was  little  more  than  a  clever  artifice,  in  which 
Capt  Jones  discovered  much  steadiness  and  address.  Not  a 
shot  touched  the  Providence,  though  the  Solebay  fired  a 
hundred. 

Capt  Jones  now  went  to  the  eastward,  where  he  made 
several  prizes.  Here  he  was  chased  by  the  Milford  S3,  and 
finding  he  could  easily  outsail  her,  he  kept  just  out  of  gun 
shot  for  several  hours,  the  enemy,  who  measured  his  dis* 
tance  badly,  firing  most  of  the  time.  This  afiair  has  also 
been  exaggerated  into  a  running  fight. 

Afler  this  chase  the  Providence  went  upon  the  coast,  off 
Canseau,  and  did  much  damage  to  the  enemy's  fishermen, 
taking  no  less  than  twelve  sail.  Having  made  sixteen 
prizes,  in  all,  some  of  which  were  valuable,  Capt.  Jones  re- 
turned to  Newport. 

Ere  the  return  of  the  Providence,  independence  was  de- 
clared, and  Congress  had  set  about  a  more  regular  organi- 
zation of  the  navy.  October  the  3d,  it  ordered  another 
frigate  and  two  cutters  to  be  built;  and  November  the  0th, 
a  law  was  passed,  authorizing  the  construction  of  three 
74's,  five  more  frigates,  a  sloop  of  war,  and  a  packet  In 
January  qf  the  succeeding  year,  another  frigate  and  another 
sloop  of  war,  were  commanded.  Eight  of  the  prizes  were 
also  directed  to  be  taken  into  the  servico,  in  the  course  of 
the  years  1776  and  1777,  while,  as  the  war  proceeded,  di- 
vers small  vessels  were  directed  to  be  built,  or  purchased. 

But  the  most  important  step  taken  by  Congress,  at  this 
time,  was  a  law  regulating  the  rank  of  the  different  officers, 
which  had  hitherto  been  very  uncertain,  and  had  led  to 
many  disputes.  By  a  resolution  passed,  April  the  17th,  1776, 
Congress  had  declared  that  rank  should  not  be  regulated  by 
the  date  of  the  original  appointments,  reserving  to  itself  the 
power  to  say  who  should  command,  when  it  had  ascertain- 
ed who  were  disposed  to  serve.  But  it  had  now  declared 
the  nation  independent  of  the  King  of  Great  Britain,  and 


It 


f 


M  MAVAL  nsTa&r.  <;' 

*'■ 

thert  wai  a  long  and  blood/^Mrar  in  perapeotive,  before  that 
independence  could  be  rebognised.  It  wai  time  to  reduce 
the  confused  elements  of  the  service  to  order,  and  to  quiet 
the  disputes  and  claims  of  individuals,  by  an  exercise  of 
sovereign  power.  A  resolution  was  accordingly  passed  on 
the  10th  of  October  1776,  directing  that  the  captains  in  the 
navy  should  take  rank  in  the  following  order,  viz: 


1.  James  Nicholson, 

2.  John  Manly, 

3.  Hector  McNiel, 

4.  Dudley  Saltonstall, 

5.  Nicholas  Kddle, 

6.  Thomas  Thompson, 

7.  John  Barry, 

8.  Thomas  Read, 

0.  Thomas  Grennall, 

10.  Charles  Alexander, 

1 1.  Lambert  Wickes, 

12.  Abraham  Whipple, 


18.  John  R  Hopj^ns, 

14.  John  Hodge, 

15.  William  Hallock, 
10.  Hoysted  Hacker, 

17.  Isaiah  Robinson, 

18.  John  Paul  Jones, 
10.  James  Josiah, 

20.  Elisha  Hinman, 

21.  Joseph  Olney, 

22.  Jamea  Robinson, 
28.  John  Young, 
24.  Elisha  Warner. 


The  Marine  Committee  was  empowered  to  arrange  the 
rank  of  the  inferior  officers.  At  this  time  Commodore 
Hopkins  was  commander-in-chief,  and  he  continued  to 
serve  in  that  capacity  until  the  commencement  of  the  fol- 
lowing January,  when  Capt.  Nicholson  became  the  senior 
officer  of  the  navy,  though  only  with  the  rank  of  captain. 
When  the  law  regulating  rank  was  passed,  the,  vessels  of 
the  navy,  in  service,  or  in  the  course  of  construction,  were 
as  follows;  the  word  building,  which  is  put  after  most  of 
them,  referring  as  well  to  those  which  had  just  been  launch- 
ed as  to  those  that  were  still  on  the  stocks;  a  few  of  the  for- 
mer, however,  were  nearly  ready  for  sea. 

List  of  vessels  in  the  United  States  Navy,  October,  1776. 
Hancock,         82,  building  at  Boston. 
Randolph,        32,        do.        Philadelphia. 


•V 


•i( 


<«*■■ 


//.w 


VAVAI.  HISTOKf 

11 

Raleigh, 

88, 

*>. 

Portsmouth,  N.  H. 

Washington, 

sa. 

do< 

Philadelphia. 

Warren, 

82, 

do. 

Rhode  Island. 

Trumbull, 

88, 

do. 

Connecticut 

Effingham, 

88, 

do. 

Philadelphia. 

Congresi, 

88, 

do.' 

Poughkeepsie,  N.  Y. 

Virginia,    ^ 

88, 

do. 

Maryland. 

Providence, 

88, 

do. 

Rhode  Island. 

Boston, 

84, 

do. 

Boston. 

Delaware, 

84, 

do. 

Philadelphia. 

Montgomery, 

84, 

do.' 

Poughkeepsie. 

Alfred, 

34,  in  service 

• 

Columbus, 

80, 

do. 

Reprisal, 

10, 

.    do. 

Cabot, 

16, 

do. 

Hamden, 

14, 

do. 

Lexington, 

14, 

do. 

Andrea  Doria 

,  14, 

do. 

'" 

Providence, 

18, 

do. 

Sachem, 

10, 

do. 

Independence 

,  10, 

do. 

Wasp, 

8, 

do. 

, 

Musquito, 

4, 

do. 

Fly, 

— 

do. 

To  these  vessels,  many  of  which  never  got  to  sea,  must 
be  added  several  small  cruisers,  that  were  employed  by  the 
American  Commissioners  in  Europe;  the  histories  of  which 
will  be  given  in  their  proper  places;  and  the  vessel  that 
parted  company  from  Commodore  Hopkins'  squadron,  on 
its  way  to  New  Providence.  This  vessel,  the  Hornet,  suf- 
fered much  before  she  got  in,  and  it  is  believed  she  was 
employed  very  little  afterwards. 

When  the  squadron,  under  Commodore  Hopkins,  broke 
up,  all  the  ships  did  not  remain  idle,  but  the  Columbus  80, 
made  a  cruise,  under  Capt  Whipple,  to  the  eastward,  and 

10* 


.-«.•, 


114 


R AVAt  HlSTCNir. 


took  «  few  prizes.  The  Andrea  Doria  14,  Capt.  Biddle^ 
went  in  the  lame  direction,  also,  and  wai  tven  more  luc- 
ceuful  than  the  Providence  in  annoying  the  enemy.  Thia 
veiiel,  a  little  brig,  carrying  14  fours,  actaally  took  two 
armed  transports  filled  with  soldiers,  and  made  prises  of  so 
many  merchantmen,  that,  it  is  affirmed  on  plausible  autho- 
rity, when  she  got  back  into  the  Delaware,  but  five  of  the 
common  men  who  composed  her  original  crew  were  in  her; 
the  rest  having  been  put  in  the  prizes,  and  their  places  sup- 
plied by  volunteers  from  among  the  prisoners.  Capt.  Biddle 
gained  much  credit  for  this  cruise,  and  on  his  return,  he  was 
appointed  to  the  command  of  the  Randolph  32,  then  recent- 
ly launched.  One  of  the  transports,  however,  was  retaken 
by  the  Cerberus  frigate. 

While  the  (Jnited  States' cruisers  were  thus  active  in 
intercepting  the  British  transports  on  the  high  seas,  the 
colony  cruisers  and  privateers  were  busy  in  the  same  way 
in-shore.  Boston  had  been  evacuated  by  the  enemy  on  the 
17th  of  March,  of  this  year;  but  vessels  continued  to  arrive 
from  England  until  midsummer ;  the  fact  not  having  been 
known  in  England  in  time  to  prevent  their  steering  towards 
the  wrong  port.  No  less  than  thirty  sail  fell  into  the  hands  of 
the  Americans,  in  consequence  of  these  mistakes.  As  one 
of  the  occurrences  of  this  nature  was,  in  a  measure,  con- 
nected with  a  circumstance  just  related  in  the  cruise  of  the 
Doria,  it  may  be  properly  given  here.  i 

The  Connecticut  colony  brig  Defence  14,  Capt.  Harding, 
left  Plymouth,  Massachusetts,  eorly  on  the  morning  of  the 
17th  of  June,  and,  on  working  out  into  the  bay,  a  desultory 
firing  was  heard  to  the  northward.  The  Defence  crowded 
sail  in  the  direction  of  the  cannonading,  and  about  dusk,  she 
fell  in  with  four  light  American  schooners,  which  had  been 
in  a  running  fight  with  two  British  transports,  that  had 
proved  too  heavy  for  them.  The  transports,  after  beating 
dflf  the  schooners,  had  gone  into  Nantasket  Roads  and  an- 


-s. 


)/■ 


)-:/ 


■*''       %. 


ITAVAL  HUTMY. 


116 


if- 


s 


%  ''"  .. 


chor«d.  One  of  the  schooners  was  the  Lee  8,  Capt  Wtttrs, 
in  the  service  of  Massachusetts,  the  little  cruiser  that  had 
so  successfully  begun  the  maritime  warfare  under  Capt. 
Manly.    The  three  others  were  privateers. 

After  laying  his  plans  with  the  commanders  of 'the 
schooners,  Capt.  Harding  stood  into  the  roads,  and  about 
eleven  o'clock,  at  night,  he  anchored  between  the  trans- 
ports, within  pistol  shot.  The  schooners  followed,  but  did 
not  approach  near  enough  to  be  of  much  service.  Some 
hailing  now  passed,  and  Capt.  Harding  ordered  the  enemy 
to  strike.  A  voice  from  the  largest  English  vessel,  answered, 
*'Ay,  ay — I'll  strike,"  and  a  broadside  was  immediately 
poured  into  the  Defence.  A  sharp  action,  that  lasted  more 
than  an  hour,  followed,  when  both  the  English  vessels  struck. 
These  transports  contained  near  two  hundred  soldiers  of  the 
same  corps  as  those  shortly  after  taken  by  the  Doria,  and 
on  board  the  largest  of  them  was  Lieut.  Col.  Campbell,  who 
commanded  the  regiment 

In  this  close  and  sharp  conflict  the  Defence  was  a  good 
deal  cut  up  aloft,  and  had  nine  men  wounded.  The  trans- 
ports lost  eighteen  killed,  and  a  large  number  wounded. 
Among  the  slain  was  Major  Menzies,  the  ofiicer  who  had 
answered  the  hail,  as  just  stated. 

The  next  morning  the  Defence,  with  the  schooners  in 
company,  saw  a  sail  in  the  bay,  and  gave  chase.  The 
stranger  proved  to  be  another  transport,  with  more  than  a 
hundred  men  of  the  same  regiment  on  board.  Thys  did 
about  five  hundred  men,  of  one  of  the  best  corps  in  the 
British  army,  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans,  by 
means  of  these  light  cruisers.  It  should  be  remembered 
that,  in  this  stage  of  the  war,  every  capture  of  this  nature 
was  of  double  importance  to  the  cause,  as  it  not  only  weak- 
ened the  enemy,  but  checked  his  intention  of  treating  the 
American  prisoners  as  rebels,  by  giving  Jhe  colonists  the 
means  of  retaliation,  as  well  as  of  exchange.  Col.  Campbell 


* i   .■^- 


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U6 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


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». 


i^ 


fj 


l^^' 


V 


WM  subsequently  made  use  of  by  Washington,  to  compel  the 
English  to  extend  better  treatment  to  the  Americans  who 
had  fallen  into  their  hands. 

To  return  to  the  vessels  left  at  Rhode  Island: — When 
Capt.  Jones  came  in  from  his  last  cruise  in  the  Providence, 
a  project  was  formed  to  send  a  small  squadron  under  his 
orders  to  the  coast  of  Nova  Scotia,  with  the  double  view  of 
distressing  the  British  trade,  and  of  liberating  about  a  hun- 
dred Americans  who  were  said  to  be  confined  in  the  coal 
pits  of  that  region.  For  this  purpose  the  Alfred  24,  Ham- 
den  14,  and  Providence  12,  were  put  under  the  orders  of 
Capt.  Jones;  but  not  having  men  enough  for  all  three,  that 
officer  selected  the  two  first  for  his  purpose.  While  clear- 
ing the  port,  the  Hamden  got  on  a  ledge  of  rocks,  and  had 
to  be  left  behind.  The  crew  of  the  Hamden  were  now 
transferred  to  the  Providence,  and  in  the  month  of  Novem- 
ber Capt.  Jones  got  to  sea,  with  both  vessels  rather  short 
manned.  A  few  days  out,  the  Alfred  made  one  or  two  small 
captures,  and  soon  after  she  fell  in  with,  and  took,  after 
a  short  combat,  the  armed  ship  Mellish,  loaded  with-  sup- 
plies for  the  army  that  was  then  assembling  in  Canada,  to 
form  the  expedition  under  Gen.  Burgoyne.  On  board  this 
vessel,  in  addition  to  many  other  articles  of  the  last  import- 
ance, were  ten  thousand  suits  of  uniform  clothes,  in  charge 
of  a  company  of  soldiers.  It  was  said,  at  the  time,  that  the 
Mellish  was  the  most  valuable  English  ship  that  had  then 
fallen  jnto  the  hands  of  the  Americans.  Of  so  much  im- 
portance did  Capt.  Jones  consider  this  capture,  that  he  an- 
nounced his  intention  to  keep  his  prize  in  sight,  and  to  sink 
her  in  preference  to  letting  her  fall  into  the  enemy's  hands 
again.  This  resolution,  however,  was  changed  by  circum- 
stances. 

The  Providence  had  parted  company  in  the  night,  and 

having  taken  a  letter  of  marque,  from  Liverpool,  the  Alfred 

'was  making  the  best  of  her  way  to  Boston,  with  a  view  to 


f> 


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t 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


117 


*^" 


■^1^' 


get  the  Meliish  in,  when,  on  the  edge  of  George's  Banks, 
she  made  the  Milford  32,  the  frigate  tha:t  had  chased  Capt. 
Jones  the  previous  cruise,  while  in  command  of  the  Provi- 
dence. The  enemy  was  to  windward,  but  there  was  not 
time  for  him  to  close  before  dark.  The  Alfred  and  the  letter 
of  marque  hauled  up  between  the  frigate  and  the  other 
prizes,  in  order  to  cover  them,  and  directions  were  given 
to  the  latter  to  stand  on  the  same  tack  all  night,  regardless 
of  signals.  At  midnight  the  Alfred  and  letter  of  marque 
tacked,  and  the  latter  showed  a  top  light  until  morning. 
This  artifice  succeeded,  the  Milford  appearing  in  chase  of 
the  Alfred  when  the  day  dawned,  while  the  Meliish  and  her 
consorts  had  all  disappeared  in  the  southern  board. 

The  Milford  had  run  to  leeward  in  the  course  of  the 
night,  and  was  now  on  the  Alfred's  lee  quarter.  Some 
manoeuvring  took  place  to  ascertain  the  stranger's  force, 
for  it  was  not  then  known  that  the  ship  in  sight  was  actually 
a  frigate.  In  the  course  of  the  day,  the  Alfred  was  com- 
pelled to  carry  sail  hard,  but  she  escaped,  though  the  letter 
of  marque  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands*  After  eluding  her 
enemy  and  covering  all  her  prizes,  but  the  one  just  men- 
tioned, the  Alfred  now  went  into  Boston,  where  she  found 
the  rest  of  the  vessels,  and  where  she  landed  her  prisoners. 
Another  officer  took  charge  of  the  ship,  and  Capt.  Jones, 
who  had  been  flattered  with  the  hope  of  having  a  still 
larger  force  put  under  his  orders,  was  placed  so  low  on  the 
list  by  the  new  regulation  of  navy  rank,  as  to  be  obliged 
to  look  round  for  a  single  ship,  and  that,  too,  of  a  fofce  in- 
ferior to  the  one  he  had  just  commanded. 

While  this  service  was  in  the  course  of  execution  at  the 
north,  several  small  cruisers  had  been  sent  into  the  West- 
Indies,  to  convoy,  in  quest  of  arms,  or  to  communicate 
with  the  different  public  agents  in  that  quarter.  We  have 
seen  the  manner  in  which  the  Lexington  had  been  captured 
and  retaken  on  her  return  passage  from  this  station,  and  ^ 


•*,- 


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M    .:     ....    5?.. 


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|,V: 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 

Mtre  have  now  to  allude  to  a  short  cruise  of  the  Reprisal, 
Capt.  Wickes,  in  the  same  quarter.  Thlk  ship  sailed  early 
in  the  summer  for  Martinique,  capturing  several  prizes  by 
the  way.  When  near  her  port,  the  English  sloop  of  war 
Shark  16,  Capt.  Chapman,  laid  her  close  alongside,  and 
commenced  a  brisk  attack,  the  Reprisal  being  both  lighter 
than  the  enemy,  and  short  handed.  Capt.  Wickes  made  so 
gallant  a  defence,  however,  that  the  Shark  was  repulsed 
with  loss,  and  he  got  into  the  island  with  credit,  hundreds 
having  witnessed  the  affair  from  the  shore.  As  this  oc- 
curred early  in  the  season,  and  before  the  declaration  of 
independence,  the  Shark  followed  the  Reprisal  in,  and  her 
captain  demanded  that  the  governor  should  deliver  up  the 
American  ship  as  a  pirate.  This  demand  was  refused  of 
course,  and  shortly  after  Capt.  Wickes  returned  home. 
With  a  view  to  connect  the  train  of  events,  we  will  now 
follow  this  excellent  officer  to  the  European  seas,  although 
we  shall  necessarily  precede  the  regular  order  of  time  in 
doing  so ;  but  we  deem  it  preferable  to  concentrate  the  inte- 
rest on  single  ships  uS  much  as  possible,  whenever  it  does 
not  seriously  impair  the  unity  of  history. 

The  Reprisal  was  the  first  American  man  of  war  that  ever 
showed  herself  in  the  other  hemisphere.  She  sailed  from  home 
not  long  after  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  appeared 
in  France  in  the  autumn  of  1776,  bringing  in  with  her  seve- 
ral prizes,  and  having  Dr.  Franklin  on  board  as  a  passenger. 
A  few  privateers  had  preceded  her,  and  slight  difficulties 
had  occurred  in  relation  to  some  of  their  prizes  that  had 
gone  into  Spain,  but  it  is  believed  these  were  the  first  Eng- 
lish captured  ships  that  had  entered  France  since  the  com- 
mencement of  the  American  Revolution.  The  English  am- 
bassador complained  of  this  infraction  of  the  treaty  between 
the  two  countries,  but  means  were  found  to  dispose  of  the 
prizes  without  detection.  The  Reprisal  having  refitted,  soon 
sailed  towards  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  on  another  cruise.   Here 


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'^- 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


119 


she  took  several  vessels  more,  and  amoi||;  the  rest  a  king'g 
packet  that  plied  between  Falmouth  and  Lisbon.  When  the 
cruise  was  up,  Capt.  Wickes  went  into  Nantes,  taking  his 
prizes  with  him.  The  complaints  of  the  English  now  be- 
came louder,  and  the  American  commissioners  were  se- 
cretly admonished  of  the  necessity  of  using  more  reserve. 
The  prizes  were  directed  to  quit  France,  though  the  Reprisal, 
being  leaky,  was  suffered  to  remain  in  port  in  order  to  refit. 
The  former  were  taken  into  the  offing,  and  sold,  the  state  of 
the  times  rendering  these  informal  proceedings  necessary. 
Enormous  losses  were  the  consequences,  while  it  is  not  im- 
probable that  the  gains  of  the  purchasers  had  their  influence 
in  blinding  the  local  authorities  to  the  character  of  the 
transaction.  The  business  appears  to  have  been  managed 
with  dexterity,  and  the  proceeds  of  the  sales,  such  as  they 
were,  pi'oved  of  great  service  to  the  agents  of  government, 
by  enabling  them  to  purchase  other  vessels. 

In  April  the  Lexington  14,  Capt.  Johnston,  arrived,  and 
the  old  difficulties  were  renewed.  But  the  commissioners 
of  the  government  at  Paris,  who  had  been  authorized  to 
equip  vessels,  appoint  officers,  and  do  other  matters,  to  an- 
noy the  enemy,  now  planned  a  cruise  that  surpassed  any 
thing  of  the  sort  that  had  yet  been  done  in  Europe  under  the 
American  flag.  Capt.  Wickes  was  directed  to  proceed  to 
sea,  with  his  own  vessel  and  the  Lexington,  and  to  go 
directly  oft' Ireland,  in  order  to  intercept  a  convoy  of  linen 
ships  that  was  expected  to  sail  about  that  time.  A  cutter 
of  ten  guns,  called  the  Dolphin,  that  had  been  detained  by  the 
commissioners  to  carry  despatches  to  America,  was  divert- 
ed from  her  original  destination  and  placed  under  the  orders 
of  Capt.  Wickes,  to  increase  his  force.  The  Dolphin  was 
commanded  by  Lieut.  S.  Nicholson,  a  brother  of  the  senior 
captain,  and  a  gentleman  who  subsequently  died  himself  at 
the  head  of  the  service. 

Capt.  Wickes,  in  command  of  this  light  squadron,  sailed 


*    t^ 


■* 


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h- 


■■*.- 


X', 


♦. 


..*" 


120 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


'» 


from  Nantes  about  the  commencement  of  June,  going  first 
into  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  and  afterwards  entirely  around  Ire- 
land, sweeping  the  sea  before  him  of  every  thing  that  was 
not  of  a  force  to  render  an  attack  hopeless.  The  linen 
ships  were  missed,  but  many  vessels  were  taken  or  destroy- 
ed.  As  the  American  cruisers  approached  the  French  coast, 
on  their  return,  a  line  of  battle  ship  gave  chase,  and  follow- 
ed them  nearly  into  port.  The  Lexington  and  Dolphin 
appear  to  have  escaped  without  much  difficulty,  by  sepa- 
rating, but  the  Reprisal  was  so  hard  pressed,  as  to  be 
obliged  to  saw  her  bulwarks,  and  even  to  cut  away  some 
of  her  timbers ;  expedients  that  were  then  much  in  favour 
among  the  seamen  of  the  day,  though  their  utility  may  be 
questioned. 

This  was  the  first  exploit  of  the  kind  in  the  war,  and  its 
boldness  and  success  seem  to  have  produced  so  much  sen- 
sation in  England,  that  the  French  government  was  driven 
to  the  necessity  of  entirely  throwing  aside  the  mask,  or  of 
taking  some  more  decided  step  in  relation  to  these  cruisers. 
Not  being  yet  prepared  for  war,  it  resorted  to  the  latter  ex- 
pedient. The  Reprisal  and  Lexington  were  ordered  to  be 
seized  and  held,  until  security  was  given  that  they  would  quit 
the  European  seas,  while  the  prizes  were  commanded  to  leave 
France  without  delay.  The  latter  were  accordingly  taken 
outside  the  port,  and  disposed  of  to  French  merchants,  in 
the  same  informal  manner,  and  with  the  same  loss,  as  in 
the  previous  cases,  while  the  vessels  of  war  prepared  to  re- 
turn home. 

In  September  the  Lexington,  a  small  brig  armed  with  four 
pounders,  sailed  from  Morlaix,  in  which  port  she  had  taken 
refuge  in  the  chase,  and  next  day  she  fell  in  with  the  British 
man-of-war-cutter  Alert,  Lieut.  Bazely,  a  vessel  of  a  force 
a  trifle  less  than  her  own,  when  an  engagement  took  place. 
The  lightness  of  the  vessels,  and  the  roughness  of  the 
water,  rendered  the  fire,  on  both  sides,  very  ineffective,  and 


♦v 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


121 


after  an  action  of  two  hours  and  a  half,  the  Lexington  had 
expended  nearly  all  her  powder,  without  subduing  her  gal- 
lant opponent.  The  Alert,  however,  had  suffered  so  much 
aloft,  as  to  enable  the  brig  to  leave  her.  Notwithstanding 
this  advantage,  so  much  activity  was  shown  on  board  the 
English  vessel,  that,  after  a  chase  of  four  hours,  she  was 
enabled  to  get  along  side  of  the  Lexington  again,  while  the 
latter  was  herself  repairing  damages.  A  one-sided  battle 
now  occurred,  the  Lexington  not  having  it  in  her  power  to 
keep  up  a  fire  of  any  moment,  and  after  receiving  that  of 
his  persevering  antagonist  for  another  hour,  Capt.  Johnston 
was  compelled  to  strike,  to  save  the  lives  of  his  crew. 
Thus  closed  the  brief  history  of  the  gallant  little  cruiser 
that  is  said  to  have  first  carried  the  American  flag  upon 
the  ocean.  Her  career  was  short,  but  it  was  not  without 
credit  and  usefulness.  When  taken,  she  had  been  in  service 
about  one  year  and  eight  months,  in  which  time  she  had  had 
three  commanders.  Captains  Barry,  Hallock,  and  Johnston ; 
had  fought  two  severe  battles  with  vessels  of  war;  was  twice 
taken,  and  once  recaptured,  besides  having  several  times 
engaged  armed  ships,  and  made  many  prizes.  The  English 
commander  received  a  good  deal  of  credit  for  the  persever- 
ing gallantry  with  which  he  lay  by,  and  captured  this  brig. 

The  fate  of  the  Reprisal,  a  vessel  that  had  even  been  more 
successful  than  her  consort,  was  still  harder.  This  ship 
also  sailed  for  America,  agreeably  to  the  conditions  made 
with  the  French  government,  and  foundered  on  the  banks 
of  Newfoundland,  all  on  board  perishing  with  the  exception 
of  the  cook.  In  Capt.  Wickes  the  country  lost  a  gallant, 
prudent,  and  efficient  officer,  and  one  who  promised  to  have 
risen  high  in  his  profession  had  his  life  been  spared. 

To  the  untimely  loss  of  the  Reprisal,  and  the  unfortunate 
capture  of  the  Lexington,  must  be  attributed  the  little  6clat 
that  attended  the  services  of  these  two  vessels  in  Europe. 
They  not  only  preceded  all  the  other  national  cruisers  in 

Vol.  L— 11 

.;%  ■       , 


^.• 


122 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


-^' 


A, 


the  European  seas,  but  they  did  great  positive  injury  to  the 
commerce  of  the  enemy,  besides  exciting  such  a  feeling  of 
insecurity  in  the  English  merchants,  as  to  derange  their 
plans,  and  to  produce  other  revolutions  in  the  course  of 
trade,  that  will  be  adverted  to  in  the  close  of  the  chapter. 

It  being  our  intention  to  complete  the  account  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  American  commissioners  at  Paris,  so  far 
as  they  were  connected  with  naval  movements,  during  the 
years  1770  and  1777,  we  come  next  to  the  affair  of  Capt. 
Conyngham,  which,  owing  to  some  marked  circumstances, 
made  more  noise  than  the  cruises  of  the  Reprisal  and  Lex- 
ington, though  the  first  exploits  of  the  latter  were  anterior 
as  to  time,  and  of  not  less  consequence  in  their  effects. 

While  the  commissioners*  were  directing  the  movements 
of  Capt.  Wickes,  in  the  manner  that  has  been  mentioned, 
they  were  not  idle  in  other  quarters.  A  small  frigate  was 
building  at  Nantes,  on  their  account,  and  we  shall  have 
occasion  hereafter  to  speak  of  her  services  and  loss,  under 
the  name  of  the  Queen  of  France.  Some  time  in  the  spring 
of  1777,  an  agent  was  sent  to  Dover  by  the  American 
commissioners,  where  he  purchased  a  fine  fast-sailing  Eng- 
lish built  cutter,  and  had  her  carried  across  to  Dunkirk. 
Here  she  was  privately  equipped  as  a  cruiser,  and  named 
the  Surprise.  To  the  command  of  this  vessel,  Capt.  Gusta- 
vus  Conyngham  was  appointed,  by  filling  up  a  blank  com- 
mission from  John  Hancock,  the  President  of  Congress. 
This  commission  bore  date  March  1st,  1777,  and  it  would 
seem,  as  fully  entitled  Mr.  Conyngham  to  the  rank  of  a 
captain  in  the  navy,  as  any  other  that  was  ever  issued  by 
the  same  authority.  Having  obtained  his  officers  and  crew 
ia  Dunkirk,  Capt.' Conyngham  sailed  on  a  cruise,  about  the 
1st  of  May,  and  on  the  4th  he  took  a  brig  called  the 
Joseph.    On  the  7th,  when  within  a  few  leagues  of  the 


*  Dr.  Franklin  and  Silas  Deane. 


^    \ 


1 1 
P'. 


•^ 


-*- 


# 


Jp 


NATAL  HISTORY. 


123 


coast  of  Holland,  the  Surprise  ran  along  side  of  the  Har- 
'wick  packet,  the  Prince  of  Orange,  Tvhich  she  boarded  and 
took  with  so  little  previous  alarm,  that  Capt.  Conynghun), 
on  stepping  upon  the  deck  of  his  prize,  walked  coolly  down 
into  her  cabin,  where  he  found  her  master  and  his  passen- 
gers at  breakfast.  The  mail  for  the  north  of  Europe  being 
on  board  the  Prince  of  Orange,  Capt.  Conyngham  believed 
his  acquisition  to  be  of  sufficient  importance  to  return  to  port, 
and  accordingly  he  reappeared  at  Dunkirk  in  a  day  or  two. 

By  referring  to  the  dates,  it  will  be  seen,  though  both 
the  Reprisal  and  the  Lexington,  especially  the  first,  had  cruis- 
ed in  the  European  seas  prior  to  the  sailing  of  the  Surprise, 
that  the  latter  vessel  performed  the  exploit  just  mentioned, 
shortly  before  Capt  Wickes  sailed  on  his  cruise  in  the  Irish 
and  English  channels.  Coming  as  it  did  so  soon  after  the 
capture  of  the  Lisbon  packet,  and  occurring  on  one  of  the 
great  thoroughfares  between  England  and  the  continent, 
coupled  with  the  fact  that  the  cutter  had  been  altogether 
equipped  in  a  French  port,  the  loss  of  the  Prince  of 
Orange  appears  to  have  attracted  more  attention,  than  the 
transactions  before  described.  The  remonstrances  of  the 
English  ambassador  were  so  earnest,  that  Capt.  Conyngham 
and  his  crew  were  imprisoned,  the  cutter  was  seized,  and 
the  prizes  were  liberated.  On  this  occasion,  the  commis- 
sion of  Capt.  Conyngham  was  taken  from  him,  and  sent  to 
Versailles,  and  it  seems  never  to  have  been  returned. 

So  completely  was  the  E[.glish  government  deceived  by 
this  demonstration  of  an  intention  on  the  part  of  the  French 
ministry  to  cause  the  treaty  to  be  respected,  that  two  sloops 
of  war  were  actually  sent  to  Dunkirk  to  carry  Capt.  Co- 
nyngham and  his  people  to  England,  that  they  might  be 
tried  as  pirates.  When  the  ships  reached  Dunkirk,  the  birds 
had  flown,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  succeeding  events. 

The  commissioners  had  the  capture  of  some  of  the  trans- 
ports with  Hessian  troops  on  board,  in  view,  and  they  were 


':^\.. 


# 


% 


\  ,  : 


A-^;(!0<1  ' 


^•'  -wK 


♦• 


*.. 


124 


KAVAL  IIISTORT. 


no  sooner  notified  of  the  seizure  of  the  Surprise,  than  Mr. 
Hodge,  an  agent  who  was  of  great  service  to  the  cause, 
was  directed  to  procure  another  cutter.  One  was  pur-  i 
chased  accordingly  at  Dunkirk,  and  was  fitted,  with  all 
despatch,  for  a  cruise.  Means  were  found  to  liberate  Capt. 
('onyngham  and  his  people,  and  this  second  vessel,  which 
was  called  the  lie vengo,  sailed  from  Dunkirk  on  the  18th  of 
July,  or  about  the  time  that  Capt.  Wickes  returned  from  his 
cruise  with  the  three  other  vessels.  A  new  commission 
liad  been  obtained  for  Capt.  Conyngham,  previously  to 
putting  to  sea,  which  bore  date  May  2nd,  1777.  As  this 
second  commission  was  dated  anterior  to  the  seizure  of  the 
old  one,  there  is  no  question  that  it  was  also  one  of  those  in 
blank,  which  had  been  confided  to  the  commissioners  to 
fill  at  their  discretion. 

The  Revenge  proved  exceedingly  successful,  making 
prizes  daily,  and  generally  destroying  them.  Some  of  the 
most  valuable,  however,  were  ordered  into  Spain,  where 
many  arrived;  their  avails  proving  of  great  moment  to  the 
agents  of  the  American  government  in  Europe.  It  is  even 
aillrmcd  that  the  money  advanced  to  Mr.  Adams  for  travel- 
ling  expenses,  when  he  landed  in  Spain  from  the  French 
frigate  La  Sensible,  a  year  or  two  later,  was  derived  from 
this  source.  ;v 

Having  suflered  from  a  gale,  Capt.  Conyngham  disguised 
the  Revenge,  and  took  her  into  one  of  the  small  English 
ports,  where  he  actually  refitted  without  detection.  Short- 
ly after,  he  obtained  supplies  in  Ireland,  paying  for  them  by 
bills  on  his  agents  in  Spain.  In  short,  after  a  cruise  of 
almost  unprecedented  success,  so  far  as  injury  to  the  Eng- 
lish merchants  was  concerned,  the  Revenge  went  into  Fer- 
rol,  refitted,  and  finally  sailed  for  the  American  seas,  where 
it  would  disturb  the  order  of  events  too  much,  to  follow 
her,  at  this  moment.  •      •  ,,     -, 

The  characters  of  the  Surprise  and  Revenge  appear 


«•' 


\.  . 


•4- 


-*  f 


tj 


'^-^ 


tf 


If  AVAL  HISTORT. 


125 


ear 


novor  to  have  been  properly  understood.  In  all  "  the 
accounts  of  the  day,  and  in  nearly,  if  not  in  quite  all  Oi  the 
subsequent  histories,  these  vessels  are  spoken  of  as  priva- 
teers, authorized  to  act  by  the  commissioners  at  Paris. 
It  is  not  clear  that  the  commissioners  sent  private-armed 
vessels  to  sea  at  nil,  though  the  act  may  have  come  within 
the  scope  of  their  powers.  That  the  two  cutters  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Conyngham  were  public  vessels,  however, 
is  proved  in  a  variety  of  ways.  Like  the  Dolphin  10, 
Lieut.  Nicholson,  an  officer  who  may  be  said  to  have  almost 
passed  his  life  in  the  navy,  the  Surprise  and  Revenge  were 
bought  and  equipped  by  agents  of  the  diplomatic  commis- 
sioners of  the  United  States,  on  public  account,  and  the 
commissions  granted  to  Capt.  Conyngham  were  gifts  of 
personal  authority,  and  not  powers  conceded  to  particular 
vessels.  It  is  known  that  Dr.  Franklin,  at  a  later  day,  and 
with  an  especial  object  in  view,  granted  temporary  com- 
missions in  the  navy,  but  there  is  no  evidence  that  either 
of  those  bestowed  on  Capt.  Conyngham  possessed  this  con- 
ditional character.  The  Revenge  was  finally  given  up  to 
the  Navy  Board,  in  Philadelphia,  and  was  sold  on  public 
account.  It  is  certainly  competent  for  a  government  to 
consider  its  public  vessels  as  it  may  see  fit,  or  to  put  them 
in  the  several  classes  of  vessels  of  war,  revenue  cruisers, 
packets,  troop-ships,  transports,  or  any  thing  else,  but  it 
would,  at  least,  be  a  novelty,  for  it  to  deem  any  of  its  own 
active  cruisers  privateers.  The  very  word  would  infer  a 
contradiction  in  terms.  Paul  Jones  speaks  of  his  desire  to 
obtain  Capt.  Conyngham  as  a  member  of  a  court  martial, 
as  late  as  1770,  and  in  a  remonstrance  against  the  treat- 
ment shown  to  Capt.  Conyngham,  then  a  prisoner  of  war, 
made  by  Congress,  through  its  Secretary,  Charles  Thomp- 
son, of  the  date  of  July  1770,  that  officer  is  termed,  "  Gus- 
tavus  Conyngham,  a  citizen  of  America,  late  commander 
of  an  armed  vessel  in  the  service  of  said  States,  and  taken 


"*"w'; ->!;. 


11* 


■  ■*' 


4 


1W 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


Hero  the  dis-    ' 


■K 


on  board  a  private  armed  cutter,"  &c.  &c. 
tinction  between  public  and  private  armed  vessels  is  une- 
quivocally made,  and  the  fact,  that  Capt.  Conyngham  had 
served  in  both,  is  as  clearly  established,  it  being  admitted 
that  he  was  acting  in  a  privateer  at  the  precise  moment 
when  captured.  The  latter  circumstance,  in  no  degree  af- 
fected the  rank  of  Capt.  Conyngham,  officers  of  the  navy 
quite  frequently  serving  in  private  armed  ships,  after 
the  first  two  or  three  years  of  the  war,  in  consequence  of 
there  not  having  been  public  vessels  to  afford  them 
employment.  That  there  was  some  irregularity  in  giving 
Capt.  Conyngham  two  commissions  for  the  same  rank, 
and  bearing  different  dates,  is  true,  but  this  arose  from 
necessity;  and  want  of  regularity  and  system  was  a  fi'ilt 
of  the  times,  rather  than  of  those  who  conducted  the  aiTui^s 
of  the  American  marine,  during  the  Revolution.  Thsre 
can  be  no  reasonable  doubt  that  both  the  Surprise  and  the 
Revenge  were  public  vessels  of  war,  and  that  Gustavus 
Conyngham  was  a  captain  in  the  navy  of  the  United  States 
of  America,  in  virtue  of  two  commissions  granted  by  a 
competent  authority;  and  that,  too,  subsequently  to  the 
declaration  of  independence,  or  after  the  country  claimed 
all  the  political  rights  of  sovereign  power. 

The  sensation  produced  among  the  British  merchants, 
by  the  different  cruises  in  the  European  seas,  that  have 
been  recorded  in  this  chapter,  is  stated,  in  the  diplomatic 
correspondence  of  the  day,  to  have  been  greater  than  that 
produced,  in  the  previous  war,  by  the  squadron  of  the  cele- 
brated Thurot.  Insurance  rose  to  an  enormous  height, 
and,  in  speaking  of  the  cruise  of  Capt.  Wickes  in  particu- 
lar, Mr.  Deane  observes  in  one  of  his  letters  to  Robert 
Morris,  that  it  *' eflectually  alarmed  England,  prevented 
the  great  fair  at  Chester,  occasioned  insurance  to  rise,  and 
even  deterred  the  English  merchants  from  shipping  goods 
in  English  bottoms,  at  any  rate,  so  that  in  a  few  weeks, 
/orty  sail  of  French  skips  were  loading  in  the  Thames  on 


% 


i' 


# 


.** 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


197 


B- 

id 
;d 
nt 

if- 

/y 

er 

of 

im 

ng 
ik, 

jm 

.'lit 

irs 

sre 

the 

VU8 

tes 

a 

the 

ed 


♦  ••* 


»' 


■# 


>■  > 


freight;  an  instance  never  before  known."  In  the  same 
letter,  this  commissioner  adds, — "  In  a  word,  Cunningham 
(Conyngham)  by  his  first  and  second  bold  expeditions,  is 
become  the  terror  of  all  the  eastern  coast  of  England  and 
Scotland,  and  is  more  dreaded  than  Thurot  was,  in  the 
late  war." 

Insurance,  in  some  instances,  rose  as  high  as  twenty- 
five  per  cent.,  and  it  is  even  affirmed  that  there  was  a  short 
period  when  ten  per  cent,  was  asked  between  Dover  and 
Calais,  a  distance  of  only  seven  leagues. 

Having  now  related  the  principal  maritime  events  that 
were  connected  with  the  policy  and  measures  of  the 
commissioners  in  France,  during  the  years  1776  and  1777, 
we  shall  return  to  the  American  seas,  and  resume  the 
thread  of  our  narrative,  where  it  has  been  interrupted,  or 
towards  the  middle  of  the  former  year.  We  shall  shortly 
have  occasion,  however,  to  revert  to  the  subject  that  we 
are  now  temporarily  quitting,  this  quarter  of  the  world 
having  been  the  theatre  of  still  more  interesting  incidents 
connected  with  the  navy,  at  a  later  day.  Before  returning 
to  the  year  1776,  and  the  more  chronological  order  of 
events,  however,  one  other  fact  may  be  well  recorded 
here.  With  a  view  to  increase  the  naval  force  of  the 
country,  the  commissioners  had  caused  a  frigate  of  extra- 
ordinary  size,  and  of  peculiar  armament  and  construction 
for  that  period,  to  be  laid  down  at  Amsterdam.  This  ship 
had  the  keel  and  sides  of  a  two  decker,  though  frigate 
built,  and  her  main  deck  armament  was  intended  to  con- 
sist of  thirty-two  pounders.  Her  name  was  the  Indien.  But 
in  consequence  of  the  apprehensions  of  the  Dutch  govern- 
ment, and  the  jealousy  of  that  of  England,  Congress  was 
induced,  about  this  time,  to  make  an  offering  of  the  In- 
dien to  Louis  XYL,  and  she  was  equipped  and  got  ready 
for  sea,  as  a  French  vessel  of  war.  In  the  end,  the  manner 
in  which  this  frigate  was  brought  into  the  service  of  qne 
of  the  new  American  States,  and  her  fate,  will  be  shown. 


-i 


,Ml 


y 

'  * 


/  t 


t 


*2 


"(rt 


*  *■ '. 

A      .. 

VAVAL  Hll^ir. 

•     * 

V 

* 
> 

4   . 


r»'5t' 


CHAPTER  VI. 


'•r-.  -ijn 


We  shall  now  return  nearer  home,  by  reverting  to  events 
that  will  require  the  time  to  be  carried  back  more  than  a 
twelvemonth.  In  renewing  this  branch  of  the  subject,  it 
may  be  well  to  take  a  brief  notice  of  the  state  of  the  regular 
marine  of  the  country,  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1776,  or 
soon  after  the  law  for  capturing  all  British  vessels  had 
passed,  and  at  a  moment  when  the  independence  of  the 
country  was  seriously  contemplated,  though  not  yet  for- 
mally declared. 

None  of  the  vessels  ordered  to  be  built,  by  the  laws  of  the 
previous  year,  were  yet  launched,  and  every  public  cruiser 
of  any  size  that  was  actually  afloat  had  been  bought  into 
the  service.  Of  these,  the  largest  were  little  suited  to  war, 
as  they  were  necessarily  selected  from  among  the  merchant 
vessels  of  the  country,  while  the  smaller  had  been  chosen 
principally  from  among  the  privateers.  Copper,  for  ships,  was 
just  coming  into  use,  and  it  is  not  believed  that  a  single  cruiser 
of  the  United  States  possessed  the  great  advantage  of  having 
this  material  on  its  bottom,  until  a  much  later  day. 

Philadelphia  being  the  seat  of  government,  the  largest 
town  in  the  country,  and  naturally  strong  in  its  defences, 
more  than  usual  attention  was  paid  to  the  means  of  pre- 
venting the  enemy  from  getting  possession  of  it  by  water. 
Thirteen  galleys  had  been  provided  for  this  purpose,  as  well 
as  a  heavy  floating  battery,  and  several  fire  rafts.  An  officer 
of  the  name  of  Hazlewood  was  put  in  command,  with  the 


'i'- 


*  * 


V  '\ 


■l 


#■■ 


J^^^L 


** 


>« 


, 

\ 

!:■'■ 

•*  -f 

* 

i^^'i, 

..f?' 

t§ 

»     t 

^  ^'.^ 

it 
ar 

..^x,. 

or 

>»• 

ad 

he 

1 

>r- 

■-1.'. 

he 

ler 

',.' 

ito 

•    f^ 

ar, 

i 

lilt 

'*.-- 

en 

as 

ler 

ng 

1 

est 

es, 

re- 

er. 

\ 

ell 

' 

;er 

^*»?-.''' 


<•.«■ 


•flF' 


.1 


120 


title  of  commodore,  his  commission  having  been  issued  by 
the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  Similar  arrangements  were  made 
in  the  Chesapeake,  whore  a  gentleman  of  the  name  of  Bar- 
ron, the  father  of  two  officers  who  have  subsequently  risen 
to  high  I  ank  in  the  service,  received  the  same  commission 
from  the  State  of  Virginia.  James  Nicholson,  who  so  shortly 
after  became  the  senior  captain  of  the  navy,  filled  a  corres- 
ponding station  in  the  colony  of  Maryland,  and  performed 
some  acts  that  did  him  credit. 

Most  of  the  colonies  had  their  respective  cruisers  at  sea, 
or  on  their  own  coasts,  while  the  ocean  literally  began  to 
swarm  with  privateers  from  all  parts  of  the  country ;  though 
the  New  England  States  took  the  lead  in  this  particular 
species  of  warfare.  Robert  Morris,  in  one  of  his  official 
letters  of  a  date  a  little  later  than  this  precise  time,  remarks 
that  the  passion  for  privateering  was  so  strong  in  this  part 
of  the  country,  that  even  agriculture  was  abandoned,  in 
order  to  pursue  it. 

The  English  evacuated  Boston  on  the  17th  of  March  of  this 
year,  retiring  to  Halifax  with  their  fleet  and  army.  From 
this  place,  they  directed  their  movements  for  a  short  period, 
or  until  they  were  enabled,  by  the  arrival  of  powerful  rein- 
forcements, to  choose  the  points  which  it  was  believed  would 
be  the  most  advantageous  to  possess  for  the  future  manage- 
mentof  the  war.  Charleston,  South  Carolina, was  soon  selecS 
ed  for  this  purpose,  and  preparations  for  a  descent  on  that  coast 
were  made  as  early  as  April,  or  immediately  after  the  eva- 
cuation of  Boston.  It  is  not  improbable  that  this  step  was 
held  in  view,  when  the  British  quitted  New-England,  as  the 
occupation  of  that  town  would  enable  the  English  govern- 
ment to  overrun  all  the  southern  colonies.  Luckily,  some 
despatches,  that  were  intercepted  by  Com.  Barron,  of  the 
Virginia  State  service,  betrayed  this  design  to  the  people  of 
Charleston,  who  were  not  slov^  in  making  their  preparations 
to  meet  the  enemy. 


'■f"^>.. 


t 


ft        '   4l'. 


130 


'1i^^    . 

■^'^'                          •*       - 

.*K 

X           f- 

■"  ■- 

XAVAL  mRoRY. 

1 

IM: 


In  furtherance  of  this  plan,'*which  is  even  said  to  have 
emanated  from  the  British  ministry  itself,  though  some  as- 
cribe the  attack  that  occurred  to  the  officers  immediately 
in  command,  the  main  object  being  a  seoure  footing  in  the 
southern  States  at  any  eligible  point  that  might  offer,  a 
squadron  consisting  of  several  sail,  under  the  orders  of 
Com.  Sir  Peter  Parker,  arrived  on  the  coast  of  North  Caro- 
lina as  early  as  May.  Here  it  was  joined  by  a  fleet  of 
transports  from  Halifax,  having  on  board  nearly  three  thou- 
sand troops,  at  the  head  of  whom  was  Lieutenant  General, 
afterwards  Sir  Henry,  Clinton. 

On  the  4th  of  June  this  imposing  force  appeared  off 
Charleston  Bar,  and  made  immediate  preparation  for  a  de- 
scent and  an  attack  by  sea ;  buoying  out  the  channel  for 
the  latter  purpose,  without  delay.  A  portion  of  the  troops 
were  landed  on  Long  Island,  which  is  separated  from  Sulli- 
van's Island  by  a  narrow  channel  that  is  fordable  in  certain 
states  of  the  tide,  with  a  view  to  pass  over  and  take  a  strong 
work  made  of  palmetto  logs  that  the  Americans  had  erected 
for  the  defence  of  their  harbour,  and  which  it  was  thought 
might  easily  be  reduced  from  the  rear.  Happily  for  the 
Americans,  a  long  continuance  of  easterly  winds  drove  the 
water  up  into  the  passage  between  the  two  islands,  convert- 
ing the  channel  into  a  ditch  that  effectually  kept  the  forces 
of  Gen.  Clinton  from  crossing.  On  the  7th,  the  frigates 
passed  the  bar,  and  on  the  10th,  a  fifty  gun  ship  succeeded, 
with  great  difficulty,  in  accomplishing  the  same  object. 
The  delay  occasioned  by  the  want  of  water,  and  the  inde- 
cision of  the  English  general,  who  acted  with  less  vigour 
than  his  associate  in  command,  was  eagerly  improved 
by  the  Americans,  and  a  considerable  force  collected 
in  and  about  the  town,  though  the  fort  on  Sullivan's  island, 
which  was  subsequently  named  after  its  gallant  commander, 
Col.  Moultrie,  did  not  admit  of  much  enlargement  or  addi- 
tional fortifying.     This  work  contained  twenty-six  guns, 


■tt  '^, 


■fe. 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


131 


eighteen  and  twenty-six  pounders,  and  it  was  garrisoned  by 
about  four  hundred  men,  of  whom  more  than  three  hundred 
were  regulars.  Other  troops  were  at  hand  to  watch  the  party 
on  Long  Island,  and  to  resist  any  attempt  to  land.  Major 
Gen.  Lee,  of  the  United  States'  service,  commanded  in  chief 
on  the  side  of  the  Americans.  Preparations,  however,  were 
made  to  save  the  garrison,  though  it  appears  to  have  been 
the  opinion  of  Col.  Moultrie,  that  he  could  have  maintained 
the  island  even  had  the  enemy  crossed  and  landed. 

On  the  28th  of  June,  Sir  Peter  Parker,  being  joined  by  an- 
other fifty,  and  having  completed  his  preparations,  moved  his 
ships  to  their  respective  stations,  in  order  to  commence  the 
attack.  Between  ten  and  eleven  in  the  forenoon,  the  Thun- 
der began  to  throw  shells  at  the  fort,  to  cover  the  approach 
of  the  other  vessels,  though  without  much  effect.  The  shells 
were  well  directed,  and  many  fell  in  the  centre  of  the  fort ; 
but  they  were  received  in  a  morass,  and  the  fuses  were 
extinguished.  But  few  exploded.  The  Bristol  50,  Sir  Peter 
Parker's  own  ship,  the  Experiment  50,  which  had  joined  but 
a  day  or  two  before,  both  vessels  of  two  decks,  the  Active 
28,  and  the  Solebay  28,  anchored  in  front  of  the  fort,  with 
springs  on  their  cables;  while  the  Acteon  28,  Siren  28,  and 
Sphinx  20,  endeavoured  to  get  into  positions  between  the 
island  and  the  town,  with  a  view  to  enfilade  the  works,  to  cut 
off  the  communications  with  the  main  body  of  the  American 
forces,  and  to  intercept  a  retreat.  The  latter  vessels  got 
entangled  among  the  shoals,  and  all  three  took  the  ground. 
In  the  confusion,  the  Sphinx  and  Siren  ran  foul  of  each 
other,  by  which  accident  the  former  lost  her  bowsprit.  The 
Acteon  stuck  so  fast,  that  all  the  efibrts  of  her  crew  to  get 
her  afloat  proved  unavailing ;  but  the  other  two  succeeded 
m  getting  oflf  in  a  few  hours.  In  consequence  of  these  mis- 
takes and  accidents,  the  three  vessels  named  were  of  little 
or  no  use  to  the  British  during  the  engagement. 

Of  the  vessels  that  came  up  in  front,  the  Active  26,  led. 


4-. 


•v.^*r 


^1^ 


.f^ 


132 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


■     *r.- 


As  she  di:ew  near,  the  fort  fired  a  few  guns,  as  if  to  try  the 
range  of  its  shot,  but  the  battle  did  not  properly  begin  until 
the  frigate  had  anchored  and  delivered  her  broadside. 
The  other  vessels  followed,  when  they  all  commenced  as 
severe  and  well  supported  a  fire,  as  was  probably  ever  kept 
up  for  so  long  a  period,  by  ships  of  their  force.  ■ 

The. cannonade  began  in  earnest  about  twelve  o'clock, 
and  it  was  miiintained  throughout  a  long  summer's  after- 
noon, and,  with  short  intervals,  until  nine  o'clock  at  night, 
with  undaunted  resolution,  on  both  sides.  The  fire  of  the 
ships  was  rapid;  that  of  the  fort  deliberate,  but  of  deadly  aim. 
The  first,  owing  to  the  peculiar  nature  of  the  wood  of  which 
the  works  were  composed,  did  but  little  injury,  while  the 
heavy  shot  sent  from  the  fort,  passed  through  and  through 
the  sides  of  the  enemy's  ships.  At  one  period,  the  garrison 
had  nearly  expended  its  ammunition,  and  its  fire  ceased  for 
so  long  a  time,  that  it  was  the  impression  of  the  enemy  it 
had  evacuated  the  works.*  A  fresh  supply  arriving,  how- 
ever, this  error  of  the  English  was  soon  corrected,  the 
fire  that  was  renewed  being,  if  possible,  more  destructive 
than  that  which  had  preceded  the  pause.  In  the  heat  of 
the  engagement  the  springs  of  the  Bristol's  cable  were  cut. 


*  Some  curious  errors  appeu*  in  Sir  Peter  Parker's  report  of  this  affair, 
arising  out  of  the  distance  at  which  he  was  placed,  and  the  confusion  of 
a  hot  conflict.  Among  other  things  he  says  that  larg^  parties  were  driven 
out  of  the  fort  by  the  fire  of  the  ships,  and  that  they  were  replaced  by 
reinforcements  from  the  main  land.  He  also  says  that  a  man  was  hanged 
on  a  tree,  in  the  rear  of  the  fort,  by  a  party  that  was  entering  it.  Nothing 
of  tho  sort  occurred.  Colonel  Moultrie  explains  the  affair  of  the  man  in 
the  tree,  by  saying  that  a  shot  took  a  soldier's  coat  and  carried  it  into  the 
branches  of  a  tree,  where  it  remuned  suspended  during  the  rest  of  the 
day.  So  far  from  any  confusion  or  disorder  having  existed  in  the  fort,  when 
General  Lee  visited  the  works  during  the  height  of  the  action,  the  offi- 
cers lud  aside  their  pipes  in  order  to  receive  him  with  a  proper  respect. 
Twelve  hundred  shot  were  picked  up  in  and  about  the  fort,  after  the 
affair,  besides  many  sheila.    '  r  "">  ■*"  ■ 


\y 


'•'.t*  A 


m 


.#■" 


> 


,'»r- 


NAVAL  BISTORT. 


188 


and  the  ship  swung  round,  with  her  stern  to  the  embrasures. 
That  deadly  deliberate  fire,  which  had  distinguished  the 
garrison  throughout  the  day,  now  told  with  awful  eflect  on 
this  devoted  vessel.  In  this  scene  of  slaughter  and  destruc- 
tion, the  old  seaman  who  commanded  the  British  squadron, 
displayed  the  high  resolution  which  has  distinguished  so 
many  other  officers  of  his  name  in  the  same  service^  during 
the  last  oentury.  At  one  time,  he  is  said  to  have  stood  almost 
alone  on  the  quarter  deck  of  his  ship,  bleeding,  but  deliver- 
ing his  orders  calmly  and  with  discretion.  By  the  applica- 
tion of  a  new  spring,  the  vessel  was  extricated  from  this 
awkward  position,  and  her  firing  was  renewed.  ^ 

But  no  courage  or  perseverance  on  the  part  of  the  assail- 
ants could  overcome  the  cool  resolution  of  the  garrison, 
and  when  night  set  in  Sir  Peter  Parker  made  the  signal  for 
the  ships  to  retire.  All  the  vessels  effected  their  retreat  but 
the  Acteon,  which  remained  too  firmly  grounded  to  be  moved. 
From  this  frigate  the  enemy  withdrew  her  people  next 
morning,  when  they  set  the  ship  on  fire,  leaving  her  with 
her  gUns  loaded  and  colours  fiying.  She  was  immedi- 
ately boarded  by  the  Americans,  who  hauled  down  her  en- 
sign, fired  a  few  shot  at  the  retreating  ships,  and  leA  her. 
In  a  short  time  her  magazine  exploded. 

This  was  the  most  hotly  contested  engagement  of  the 
kind  that  ever  took  place  on  the  American  coast,  and  it 
goes  fully  to  prove  the  important  military  position  that  ships 
cannot  withstand  forts,  when  the  latter  are  properly  con- 
structed, armed  and  garrisoned.  General  Moultrie,  in  his 
Memoirs,  states  that  he  commenced  the  battle  with  only 
twenty-eight  rounds  of  powder.  The  supplies  received 
during  the  fight  amounted  to  but  seven  hundred  pounds  in 
gross,  which,  for  guns  of  so  heavy  calibre,  would  scarcely 
make  a  total  of  thirty-five  rounds.  He  is  of  opinion  that 
the  want  of  powder  alone  prevented  th^  Americans  from 
destroying  the  men  of  war.        t7"i>  >; 

Vol.  I.— 12     •"■■■.  ^'.'    .  ''    '\y.>.r  ■    '• 


^r 


4 


■'W';.* 


134 


NAVAX.  HISTORY. 


4 


On  this  occasion  the  Americans  had  only  thirty-six 
killed  and  wounded,  while  the  loss  of  the  British  was 
about  two  hundred  men.  The  two  fifty  gun  ships  sufiered 
most,  the  Bristol  having  the  (Commodore  himself,  Captain 
Morris,  who  died  of  his  injuries,  and  sixty-nine  men  wound- 
ed, besides  forty  killed.  Among  the  former  was  Lord 
William  Campbell,  a  brother  of  the  Duke  of  Argyle,  who 
had  recently  been  governor  of  South  Carolina,  in  which 
province  he  had  married,  and  who  had  taken  a  command 
on  the  Bristol's  lower  gun  deck,  with  a  view  to  animate  her 
men.  The  Experiment  suffered  little  less  than  the  Bristol, 
several  of  her  ports  having  been  knocked  into  one,  and 
sevepty-nine  of  her  officers  and  crew  were  killed  and 
wounded.  Among  the  latter  was  her  commander.  Captain 
Scott.  The  frigates,  attracting  less  of  the  attention  of  the 
garrison,  escaped  with  comparatively  little  loss.  A  short 
time  after  this  signal  discomfiture,  the  British  temporarily 
abandoned  their  design  on  Charleston,  carrying  off  the 
troops,  which  had  been  perfectly  useless  during  the  opera- 
tions. .nC'^i*    ■    ' 

Quitting  the  south  for  the  present,  we  will  now  return  to 
the  north,  to  mention  a  few  of  the  lighter  incidents  that  oc- 
curred at  different  points  on  the  coast  Soon  after  the  Bri- 
tish left  Boston,  a  Captain  Mugford  obtained  the  use  of  a 
small  armed  vessel  belonging  to  government,  called  the 
Franklin,  and  getting  to  sea,  he  succeeded  in  capturing  the 
Hope,  a  ship  that  had  on  board  fifteen  hundred  barrels  of 
powder,  and  a  large  quantity  of  entrenching  tools,  gun  car- 
riages, and  other  stores.  This  vessel  was  got  into  Boston, 
in  sight  of  the  British  squadron.  Attempting  another  cruise 
immediately  afterwards.  Captain  Mugford  lost  his  life  in 
maiung  a  gallant  and  successful  effort  to  repel  some  of  the 
enemy's  boats,  which  had  endeavoured  to  carry  the  Frank- 
lin and  a  small  privateer  that  was  in  company,  by  boarding. 
On  the  6th  of  July,  or  two  days  after  the  declaration  of 


#' 


-:!> 


^ 


* 

* 

HISTORY-. 

f,-'     \    * 

13ft 

■*'■ 


>^.-:' 


r*f'*- 


independence,  the  Sachem,  10,  Captain  Robinson,  sailed 
■from  the  Delaware  on  a  cruise.  The  Sachem  was  sloop 
rigged,  and  one  of  the  lightest  cruisers  in  the  service. 
When  a  few  days  out  she  fell  in  with  an  English  letter  of 
marque,  a  Jamaica-man,  and  captured  her,  after  a  sharp 
contest  Both  vessels  are  said  to  have  suffered  severely  in 
this  affair,  and  to  have  had  an  unusual  number  of  their 
people  killed  and  wounded.  Captain  Robinson  was  now 
compelled  to  return  to  refit,  and  arriving  at  Philadelphia 
with  his  prize,  the  Marine  Committee%ewarded  him  for  his 
success  by  giving  him  the  command  of  the  Andrea  Doria, 
14,  then  recently  returned  from  her  cruise  to  the  eastward 
under  Captain  Biddle,  which  officer  had  been  transferred  to 
the  Randolph,  32.  . 

The  Doria  sailed  shortly  after  for  St.  Eustatia,  to  bring 
home  some  arms;  and  it  is  said  that  the  first  salute  ever 
paid  to  the  American  flag,  by  a  regular  government,  was 
fired  in  return  for  the  salute  of  the  Doria,  when  she  went 
into  that  island.  For  this  indiscretion  the  Dutch  governor 
was  subsequently  displaced. 

On  her  return  passage,  off  the  western  end  of  Porto  Rico, 
the  Doria  made  an  English  vessel  of  war,  bearing  down 
upon  her  with  a  disposition  to  engage.  On  ranging  up 
abeam,  the  enemy  commenced  the  action  by  firing  a  broad- 
side, which  was  immediately  returned  by  the  Doria.  A 
very  sharp  contest  of  two  hours  followed,  when  the  Eng- 
lishman struck.  The  prize  proved  to  be  the  Racehorse,  12, 
Lieut.  Jones,  who  had  been  sent  by  his  admiral  to  cruise 
expressly  for  his  captors.  Lidut.  Jones  was  mortally 
wounded,  and  a  very  large  proportion  of  the  Racehorse's 
officers  and  crew  were  either  killed  or  wounded.  The 
Doria  lost  twelve  men,  including  all  the  casualties.  Captain 
Robinson  and  his  prize  got  safely  into  Philadelphia,  in  due 
season.  The  Doria  never  went  to  sea  agjiin,  being  shortly 
after  burned  by  the  Americans  to  prevent  her  falling  into 


*».; 


:m 


•   '■ '  ^ 


'Sl'tf'; 


R(^-. 


186 


KAVAL  KIST<my. 


the  hands  of  the  British  fleet,  when  the  evacuation  of  Fort 
Mifflin  gave  the  enemy  the  commancl  of  the  Delaware. 

The  galleys  in  the  Delaware  had  a  long  and  well  con- 
tested struggle  with  the  Roebuck,  44,  Captain  Hammond,  » 
and  the  Liverpool,  20,  Captain  Bellew,  about  the  first  of  May 
of  this  year.  The  cannonade  was  handsomely  conducted, 
and  it  resulted  in  driving  the  enemy  from  the  river.  During 
this  affair  the  Wasp,  8,  Captain  Alexander,  was  active  and 
conspicuous,  cutting  out  a  tender  of  the  English  ships  from 
under  their  guns.       ^ 

A  spirited  attack  was  also  made  on  the  Phcenix,  44,  and 
Rose,  24,  in  the  Hudson,  on  the  third  of  August,  by  six 
American  galleys.  The  firing  was  heavy  and  well  main- 
tained for  two  hours,  both  sides  suffering  materially.  On 
the  part  of  the  galleyef,  eighteen  men  were  killed  and  wound- 
ed, and  several  guns  were  dismounted  by  shot.  The  loss 
of  the  enemy  is  not  known,  though  both  vessels  were  re- 
peatedly bulled. 

But  by  this  time  the  whole  coast  was  alive  with  adven- 
tures of  such  a  nature,  scarcely  a  week  passing  that  did  not 
^ive  rise  to  some  incident  that  would  have  interest  for  the 
reader,  did  the  limits  of  our  work  permit  us  to  enter  into 
the  details.  Wherever  an  enemy's  cruiser  appeared,  or  at- 
tempted to  land,  skirmishes  ensued ;  and  in  some  of  these 
little  affairs  as  much  personal  gallantry  and  ingenuity  were 
displayed  as  in  many  of  the  more  important  combats.  The 
coast  of  New  England  generally,  the  Chesapeake,  and  the 
coast  of  the  Carolinas,  were  the  scenes  of  most  of  these 
minor  exploits,  which,  like  all  the  subordinate  incidents  of  a 
great  struggle,  are  gradually  becoming  lost  in  the  more  en- 
grossing events  of  the  war. 

October  12th,  of  this  year,  an  armed  British  brig,  fitted 
out  by  the  government  of  the  Island  of  Jamaica,  the  name 
of  which  has  beei^  lost,  made  an  attempt  on  a  small  convoy 
of  American  vessels,  off  Cape  Nicola  Mole,  in  the  West  In- 


;  * 


"'•  ..  ^W   ■ 


-'^h 


fA 


i*- 


i 


*■ 


» 


%w: 


VAVAL  HISTORY. 


187 


dies,  then  in  charge  of  the  privateer  Ranger,  18,  Capt.  Hud- 
son. Perceiving  the  aim  of  the  enemy,  Capt.  Hudson  ran 
under  her  stern,  and  gave  her  a  severe  raking  fire.  The 
action  thus  commenced,  lasted  nearly  two  hours,  when  the 
Ranger  boarded,  and  carried  the  brig,  hand  to  hand.  The 
English  vessel,  in  this  affair,  reported  thirteen  men  killed 
and  wounded,  by  the  raking  broadside  of  the  Ranger  alone. 
In  the  whole,  she  had  between  thirty  and  forty  of  her  peo- 
ple injured.  On  her  return  from  this  cruise,  the  Hanger 
was  purchased  for  the  navy.  ||^ 

While  these  events  were  occurring  on  the  ocean,  naval 
armaments,  and  naval  battles,  took  place  on  those  lakes, 
that  witnessed  the  evolutions  of  squadrons  of  force  in  the 
subsequent  war  between  the  two  countries. 

Iq  order  to  command  the  Lakes  Champlain  and  George, 
across  which  lay  the  ancient  and  direct  communication 
with  the  Canadas,  flotillas  had  been  coniSitructed  on  both 
these  waters,  by  the  Americans.    To  resist  this  force,  and 
with  a  view  to  co-operate  with  the  movements  of  their 
troops,  the  British  commenced  the  construction  of  vessels 
at  St.  Johns.    Several  men-of-war  were  laid  up,  in  the  St. 
Lawrence,  and  their  officers  and  crews  were  transferred  to 
the  shipping  thus  built  on  Lake  Champlain. 
;    The  American  force,  in  the  month  of  August,  appears  to 
have  consisted  of  the  following  vessels,  viz: — 
Schooner,  Royal  Savage,  12,  Wynkoop, 
Do.       Enterprise,         13,  Dixon. 


#,<»- » 


\, 


■a. 


Do. 

Revenge, 

10,  Laman, 

Do. 

Liberty, 

10,  Plumer. 

Gondola, 

3,  Simmons. 

Do. 

3,  Mansfield. 

'i 

Do. 

3,  Sumner, 

Do. 

3,  listens. 

To  this  force  were  added  several  more  gondolas,  and  a 
few  row  galleys.  These  vessels  were  hastily  equipped,  and  in 

12* 


4- 


Tt 


m 


It'-' 


■St 


^ 


fe- 


1«     *-\ 


.;^v 


?4^t 


138 


H  AVAL  H»T<AT. 


.Ir- 


-^ 


most  of  the  instances,  it  is  believed,  that  th()y  were  com- 
manded by  officers  in  the  army.  Their  crews  were  prin- 
cipally soldiers.  At  a  later  day,  the  American  force  was 
materially  changed,  new  names  were  given  and  new  vessels 
substituted,  but  so  much  confusion  exists  in  the  accounts  as 
to  render  any  formal  attempt  at  accuracy  in  enumerating 
the  craft,  difficult,  if  not  impossible. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  British  constructed  a  force,  that 
enabled  them  to  take  the  lake  in  October,  with  the  follow- 
ing vessels,  viz : —     » 


Ship, 

Inflexible, 

16, 

Lieut.  Schank. 

Schooner, 

Maria, 

14, 

"      Starke. 

Do. 

Carleton, 

12, 

"      Dacres. 

Radeau, 

Thunderer, 

14, 

«      Scott. 

Gondola, 

Royal  Convert, 

7, 

"      Langcrofi 

To  these  were  added  twenty  gun  boats,  four  long  boats, 
each  armed  with  a  gun,  and  twenty-four  other  craft, 
loaded  with  stores  and  provisions.  The  metal  of  this 
flotilla  was  much  superior  to  that  of  the  American  force, 
the  Inflexible  carrying  twelve  pounders,  the  schooners  sixes, 
the  radeau  twenty-fours  and  twelves,  and  the  gun  boats, 
pieces  that  varied  from  eighteens  down  to  nines.  The 
British  accounts  admit  that  706  officers  and  men  were 
drafted  from  the  Isis,  Blonde,  Triton,  Garland,  &c.,  in  order 
to  man  these  vessels,  and  artillerists  and  other  troops  were 
also  put  on  board  to  aid  in  fighting  them. 

October  11th,  General  Arnold,  who  commanded  the 
American  flotilla,  was  lying  ofi*  Cumberland  Head,  when  at 
eight  in  the  morning,  the  enemy  appeared  in  force,  to  the 
northward,  turning  to  windward  with  a  view  to  engage. 
On  that  day  the  American  vessels  present  consisted  of  the 
Royal  Savage,  12,  Revenge,  10,  Liberty,  10,  Lee,  cutter,  4, 
Congress,  galley,  10,  Washington,  do.,  10,  Trumbull,  do., 
10,  and  eight  gondolas.  Besides  the  changes  that  had  been 
made  since  August,  two  or  three  of  the  vessels  that  were 
on  the  lake,  were  absent  on  other  duty.    The  best  accounts 


AJ' 


m 


iS 


'H.;^ 


1"'  ■♦ 


k 


KAVAL  HISTORT. 


139 


* 


State  the  force  of  this  flotilla,  or  of  the  vessels  present,  as 
follows,  viz: 

Guns,    90 

\  Metal,  647  lbs.     ' 

'f . .  Men,     600,  including  soldiers. 

On  this  occasion,  the  British  brought  up  nearly  their 
whole  force,  as  it  has  been  already  stated,  although  having 
the  disadvantage  of  being  to  leeward,  all  their  vessels  could 
not  get  into  close  action.  Capt.  Douglas,  of  the  Isis,  had 
commanded  the  naval  movements  that  preceded  the  battles, 
and  Lieut  Gen.  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  was  present,  in  person, 
on  board  the  Maria.  The  first  officer,  in  his  official  report 
of  the  events,  mentions  that  the  kiflexible  was  ready  to  sail, 
within  twenty-eight  da3rs  after  her  keel  had  been  laid,  and 
that  he  had  caused  to  be  equipped,  between  July  and  Octo- 
ber, "  thirty  fighting  vessels  of  different  sorts  and  sizes,  and 
all  carrying  cannon.*'  Capt.  Pringle,  of  the  Lord  Howe, 
was  the  officer  actually  in  charge,  however,  of  the  British 
naval  force  on  the  lake,  and  he  commanded  in  person  in 

i     the  different  encounters. 

The  action  of  the  11th  of  October  commenced  at  eleven, 
in  the  forenoon,  and  by  half  past  twelve  it  was  warm.  On 
the  part  of  the  British,  the  battle  for  a  long  time,  was  prin- 
cipally carried  on  by  the  gun-boats,  which  were  enabled  to 
sweep  up  to  windward,  and  which,  by  their  weight  of  metal, 
were  very  efficient  in  smooth  water.  The  Carleton,  12, 
Lieut.  Dacres,  was  much  distinguished  on  this  day,  being 
the  only  vessel  of  size,  that  could  get  into  close  fight.  After 
maintaining  a  hot  fire  for  several  hours,  Capt.  Pringle  judi- 
ciously called  off  the  vessels  that  were  engaged,  anchoring 
just  out  of  gun  shot,  with  an  intention  to  renew  the  attack 
in  the  morning.  In  this  affair  the  Americans,  who  had  dis- 
covered great  steadiness  throughout  the  day,  had  about  60 
killed  and  wounded,  while  the  British  acknowledged  a  loss 

^   of  only  40.    The  Carleton,  however,  suffered  consideraUy. 


# 


■^    - 


^ 


140 


.•/ 


i 

i 


•,\ 


KAVAL  HMTOHr. 


Satiified  that  it  would  be  impossible,  suooiltfully,  to^resist' 
so  great  a  superiority  of  force,  GeAeral  Arnold  got  under 
way,  at  2  P.  M.,  on  the  13th,  with  the  wind  fresh  aheitd. 
The  enemy  made  sail  in  chttie,  as  soon  as  his  departure  was 
discovered,  but  neither  flotilla  could  make  much  progress  on 
account  of  the  gondolas,  which  were  unable  to  turn  to 
windwanl.  In  the  evening  the  wind  moderated,  when  the 
Americans  gained  materially  on  their  pursuers.  Another 
change  occurred,  however,  and  a  singular  variation  in  the 
currents  of  air,  now  favoured  the  enemy;  for  while  the 
Americans,  in  the  narrow  part  of  the  lake,  were  contending 
with  a  fresh  southerly  breeze,  the  English  got  the  wind  at 
north'Oast,  which  brought,  their  leading  vessels  up  within 
gun  shot  at  12,  meridian,  on  the  13th.  - . ' .  << 

On  this  occasion  Capt.  Pringle,  in  the  Maria,  led  in  per- 
son, closely  supported  by  the  Inflexible  and  Carlcton.  The 
Americans  were  much  scattered,  several  of  their  gondolas 
having  been  sunk  and  abandoned,  on  account  of  the  impos- 
sibility of  bringing  them  oflf.  General  Arnold,  in  the  Con- 
gress galley,  covered  the  rear  of  his  retreating  flotilla, 
having  the  Washington  galley,  on  board  of  which  was 
Brigadier  General  Waterbury,  in  company.  The  latter  had 
been  much  shattered  in  the  flght  of  the  11th,  and  after  re- 
ceiving a  few  close  broadsides,  she  was  compelled  to  strike. 
General  Arnold  now  defended  himself  like  a  lion,  in  the 
Congress,  occupying  the  three  vessels  of  the  enemy  so  long 
a  time,  as  to  enable  six  of  his  little  fleet  to  escape.  When 
further  resistance  was  out  of  the  question,  he  ran  the  Con- 
gress on  shore,  set  Are  to  her,  and  she  blew  up  with  her 
colours  flying. 

Although  the  result  of  this  action  was  so  disastrous,  the 
American  arms  gained  much  credit,  by  the  obstinacy  of 
the  resistance.  General  Arnold,  in  particular,  covered  him- 
self with  glory,  and  his  example  appears  to  have  been 
noblv  followed  bv  most  of  his  oflicers  and  men.    Even  the 


1* 


^' 


i\ 


m 


':%• 


i5  '  ■'  *i^- 


^■ 


■*' 


^ 

M^ 

H 


^^'. 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


141 


enpm/  did  jutitittl  to  the  resolution  and  skill  with  which  the 
American  flotilla  was  mahaged,  the  disparity  in  the  force  ren- 
de^ng  victory  out  of  the  question  from  the  first.  The  manner 
in  which  «the  Congress  was  foilght  until  she  had  covered 
the  retreat  of  the  galleys,  and  the  stubborn  resolution  with 
which  she  was  defended  until  destroyed,  converted  the  dis- 
asters of  this  part  of  the  day,  into  a  species  of  triuipph. 

In  these  affairs,  the  Americans  lost  eleven  vessels,  prin* 
cipally  gondolas,  while  on  the  part  of  the  British,  two  gon- 
dolas  were  sunk,  and  one  blown  up.  The  loss  of  men  was 
supposed  to  be  about  equal,  no  less  than  sixty  of  the  enemy 
perishing  in  the  gondola  that  blew  up.  This  statement 
diJTors  from  the  published  official  accounts  of  the  English, 
but  those  reports,  besides  being  meagre  and  general,  are 
contradicted  by  too  much  testimony  on  the  other  side,  to 
command  our  respect.      ..    '  ^   .  '"  -Mj'^      -    .     v 

We  have  had  occasion,  already,  to  mention  Mr.  John 
Ma;.ly,  who,  in  command  of  the  schooner  Lee,  made  the 
first  captures  that  occurred  in  the  war.  The  activity  and 
resolution  of  this  officer,  rendered  his  name  conspicuous  at 
the  commencement  of  the  struggle,  and  it  followed  as  a 
natural  consequence,  that,  when  Congress  regulated  the 
rank  of  the  captains,  in  1776,  he  appears  as  one  of  them, 
his  appointment  having  been  made  as  early  as  April  the 
17th,  of  this  year.  So  highly,  indeed,  were  his  iervices 
then  appreciated,  that  the  name  of  Captain  Manly  stands 
second  on  the  list,  and  he  was  appointed  to  the  command 
of  the  Hancock,  32.  When  Capt.  Manly  was  taken  into  the 
navy,  the  Lee  was  given  to  Capt.  Waters,  and  was  present 
at  the  capture  of  the  three  transports  off  Boston,  as  has  been 
already  stated.  This  little  schooner,  the  name  of  which 
will  ever  remain  associated  with  American  history,  in  con- 
sequence of  her  all  important  captures  in  1775,  appears  to  * 
have  continued  actively  employed,  as  an  in-s|iore  cruiser, 
throughout  this  year,  if  not  later,  in  the  pay  of  the  new 


w.-      ■•-*■■ 

<%.    . 

V-." 

-.fi^' 

• 

-■-?,„;' 

.   "'  ^  Ml 

<¥>\ 


'  -7 


148 


NAVAL  HISTORT. 


State  of  Massachusetts.  Capt.  Waters,  like  his  predo* 
cessor,  Capt.  Manly,  was  received  into  the  navy,  on  the 
recommendation  of  Washington,  a  commission  to  that 
effect  having  been  granted'by  Congress,  March  18th,  1777. 

Much  enterprise  and  gallantry  were  exhibited  in  the  en« 
counters  between  the  American  privateers  and  heavily 
armed  merchant-ships  of  the  enemy,  at  this  period,  and 
England  appears  to  have  been  so  completely  taken  by  sur-    ' 
prise,  that  they  were  of  almost  daily  occurrence.    The  dif- 
ferent colonies,  also,  fitted  out  more  cruisers,  principally 
vessels  purchased  for  that  purpose,  and  some  of  them  were 
commanded  by  officers  who  also  bore  commissions  in  the 
service  of  Congress,  or  of  the  United  States  of  America,  as 
the  confederation  was  called  after  the  declaration  of  inde- 
pendence.   South  Carolina,  on  the  16th  February,  1776, 
had  three  of  these  vessels;  a  ship  of  26  nine  pounders;  a  ' 
brig  of  18  sixes ;  and  a  schooner  jf  12  sixes.    One  of  these 
cruisers  drove  a  sloop  of  war  from  her  convoy,  and  cap- 
tured four  transports  loaded  with  stores.    Massachusetts 
was  never  without  several  cruisers,  and  Pennsylvania, 
from  time  to  time,  had  more  or  less.     Virginia  had  her  little 
marine,  too,  as  has  been  already  mentioned,  though  its. 
attention  was  principally  directed  to  the  defence  of  her  ' 
numerous  rivers  and  bays. 

Some  of  the  English  accounts  of  this  period  state  that 
near  a  hundred  privateers  had  been  fitted  out  of  New-Eng- 
land, alone,  in  the  first  two  years  of  the  war,  and  the  num- 
ber 01  bcamen  in  the  service  of  the  crown,  employed  against 
the  new  States  of  America,  was  computed  at  26,000. 

The  colonies  obtained  many  important  supplies,  colonial  ,' 
as  well  as  military,  and  even  manufactured  articles  of  ordi-  ^ 
nary  use,  by  means  of  their  captures,  scarce  a  day  passing 
that  vessels  of  greater  or  less  value  did  not  arrive  in  some 
one  of  the  ports  of  their  extensive  coast.  By  a  list  published 
in  the  Remembrancer,  an  English  work  of  credit,  it  appears 


»     ' » 


^ 


:  \ 


"■; 


..7 '■..', 


% 


»■  •'     » 


.-^ 


WAVAL  HISTORY. 


>4(, 


148 


•^H^' 


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'ff>. 


^^^ 


'*".• 


■^- 


r^    •-;>■• 


*   /" 

*  '*•■ 


that  342  sail  of  English  vessels  had  been  taken  by  American 
cruisers  in  1770,  of  whioh  number  44  had  been  recaptured, 
18  had  been  released,  und  4  were  burned. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  Amerteans  met  with  their  disas- 
ters; many  privateers  were  taken,  principally  by  the  fast- 
sailing  frigates  of  the  enemy,  and  valuable  merchantmen 
fell  into  their  hands,  from  time  to  time.  In  short,  the  war 
became  very  destructive  to  both  parties,  in  a  commercial 
sense,  though  it  was  best  supported  by  the  colonists,  as  the 
rise  in  colonial  produce,  in  a  measure,  compensated  them 
for  thoir  losses. 


^,. 


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% 


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m 


mFmrn 


.% 


144 


HAVAL  HISTORr. 


.m 


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...  ...  _,.;.. 


■s  .  .. 


CHAPTER  VII. 


'^W^""' 


-x>.  • 


^..  ^.   \. 


The  year  1777  opened  with  new  prospects  on  the  Ame- 
rican cause.  The  hardy  movements  of  Washington  in 
New  Jersey  had  restored  the  drooping  confidence  of  the 
nation,  and  great  efforts  were  made  to  follow  up  the  advan- 
tage that  had  been  so  gloriously  obtained.  Most  of  the 
vessels  authorized  by  the  laws  of  1775  had  been  built  and 
equipped,  during  the  year  1776,  and  America  may  now  be 
said,  for  the  first  time,  to  have  something  like  a  regular 
navy,  although  the  service  was  still,  and  indeed  continued 
to  be  throughout  the  war,  deficient  in  organization,  system 
and  unity.  It  could  scarcely  be  deemed  a  regular  service*^^ 
at  all,  for  after  the  first  efibrt,  connected  with  its  creation, 
the  business  of  repairing  losses,  of  increasing  the  force,  and 
of  perfecting  that  which  had  been  so  hastily  commenced, 
was  either  totally  neglected,  or  carried  on  in  a  manner  so 
desultory  and  inefficient,  as  soon  to  leave  very  little  of 
method  or  order  in  the  marine.  As  a  consequence,  officers 
were  constantly  compelled  to  seek  employment  in  private 
armed  ships  or  to  remain  idle,  and  the  discipline  did  not 
advance  as  would  otherwise  have  been  the  case,  during  the 
heat  of  an  active  war.  To  the  necessities  of  the  nation, 
however,  and  not  to  its  foresight  and  prudence,  must  be  at- 
tributed this  state  of  things,  the  means  of  raising  and  main- 
taining troops  being  obtained  with  difficulty,  and  the  cost  of 
many  ships  entirely  exceeding  its  resources.  It  is  probable 
that  had  not  the  public  armed  vessels  been  found  useful  in 


i» 


^'-..f 


not 
the 
ion, 
at- 
ain- 
stof 


/ 


■%■ 


NAVAL  BISTQRY. 


*^^. 


145 


conveying,  as  well  as  in  convoying  the  produce  by  means  of 
which  the  loans  obtained  in  Europe  were  met,  and  perhaps 
indispensable  in  keeping  up  the  diplomatic  communica- 
tions with  that  quarter  of  the  worlds  the  navy  would  have 
been  suffered  to  become  extinct,  beyond  its  employment  in 
the  bays  and  rivers  of  the  country.  This,  however,  is  anti- 
cipating events,  for  at  the  precise  moment  in  the  incidents  of 
the  war,  at  which  we  have  now  arrived,  the  exertions  of  the 
republic  were  perhaps  at  their  height,  as  respects  its  naval 
armaments.     '  ::^:!  '^V-'V^' f  •'f. ''■-.';■-'■.  .<  •.:■;•■>-•.•        ./:»•  •* 

One  of  the  first,  if  not  the  very  first  of  the  new  vessels 
that  got  to  sea,  was  the  Randolph  32.  It  has  been  said  that 
Capt.  Biddle  had  been  appointed  to  this  ship,  on  his  return 
from  his  successful  cruise  in  the  Andrea  Doria  14.  The 
Randolph  was  launched  at  Philadelphia  in  the  course  of  the 
season  of  1776,  and  sailed  on  her  first  cruise  early  in  1777. 
Discovering  a  defect  in  his  masts,  as  well  as  a  disposition  to 
mutiny  in  his  people,  too  many  of  whom  were  volunteers 
from  among  the  prisoners,  Capt.  Biddle  put  into  Charleston 
for  repairs.  As  soon  as  the  ship  was  refitted,  he  sailed 
again,  and  three  days  out,  he  fell  in  with  and  captured  four 
Jamaica-men,  one  of  which,  the  True  Briton,  had  an  arma- 
ment of  20  guns.  With  these  prizes,  the  Randolph  returned 
to  Charleston,  in  safety.  Here  she  appears  to  have  been 
blockaded,  by  a  superior  English  force,  during  the  remain- 
der of  the  season.  The  state  authorities  of  South  Carolina 
were  so  much  pleased  with  the  zeal  and  deportment  of 
Capt.  Biddle,  and  so  much  elated  with  their  own  success 
against  Sir  Peter  Parker,  that  they  now  added  four  small 
vessels  of  war  of  their  own,  the  Gen.  Moultrie  18,  the  Polly 
16,  the  Notre  Dame  16,  and  the  Fair  American  14,  to  his 
command,  with  which  vessels  i  i  company,  and  under  his 
orders,  Capt.  Biddle  sailed  in  quest  of  the  British  ships,  the 
Carrysfort  32,  the  Perseus  20,  the  Hinchinbrook  16,  and  a 
privateer,  which  had  been  .ruising  off  Charleston  for  some 

Vol.  I.— 13 


^    f 


p\ 


■m\ 


;:?v' 


^ 


■^■■mPi' 


i.  %:.. 


th- 


•* 


■'^■■ 


h-  « 


m:- 


146 


NATAL  HISTORY. 


time.  The  American  squadron,  however,  had  been  detained 
so  long  by  foul  winds,  that  no  traces  of  the  enemy  were  to 
be  discovered  when  it  got  into  the  offing.  For  the  further 
history  of  the  Randolph,  we  are  unhappily  indebted  to  the 
British  accounts.  '•.,».";' 

By  a  letter  from  Capt.  Vincent,  of  his  Britannic  Majesty's 
ship  Yarmouth  64,  dated  March  17th,  1778,  we  learn  that, 
on  the  7  th  of  that  month,  while  cruising  to  the  eastward  of 
Barbadoes,  he  made  six  sail  to  the  south-west,  standing  on 
a  wind.  The  Yarmouth  bore  down  on  the  chases,  which 
proved  to  be  two  ships,  three  brigs,'and  a  schooner.  About 
nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  she  succeeded  in  ranging  up  on 
the  weather  quarter  of  the  largest  and  leading  vessel  of  the 
strangers ;  the  ship  next  in  size,  being  a  little  astern  and  to 
leeward.  Hoisting  her  own  colours,  the  Yarmouth  ordered 
the  ship  near  her  to  show  her  ensign,  when  the  American 
flag  was  run  up,  and  the  enemy  poured  in  a  broadside. 
A  smart  action  now  commenced,  and  was  maintained  with 
vigour  for  twenty  minutes,  when  the  stranger  blew  up.  The 
two  ships  were  so  near  at  the  time,  that  many  fragments  of 
the  wreck  struck  the  Yarmouth,  and,  among  other  things, 
an  American  ensign,  rolled  up,  was  blown  in  upon  her  fore- 
castle. This  flag  was  not  even  singed.  The  vessels  in 
company  now  steered  different  ways,  and  the  Yarmouth 
gave  chase  to  two,  varying  her  own  course  for  that  pur- 
pose. But  her  sails  had  suffered  so  much  in  the  short  action, 
that  the  vessels  chased  soon  run  her  out  of  sight.  In  this 
action  the  Yarmouth,  by  the  report  of  her  own  commander, 
had  5  men  killed  and  12  wounded.  On  the  12th,  while 
cruising  near  the  same  place,  a  piece  of  wreck  vf&z  disco- 
vered, with  four  men  on  it,  who  were  making  signals  for 
relief.  These  men  were  saved,  and  when  they  got  on  board 
the  Yarmouth,  they  reported  themselves  as  having  belonged 
to  the  United  States'  ^hip  Randolph  32,  Capt.  Biddle,  the 
vessel  that  had  blown  up  in  action  with  the  Englishman  on 


M 


ft 


•*i. 


K* 


# 


4 


"0"- 


KAVAL  HISTORY. 


147 


ihe  night  of  the  7th  of  the  same  month.  They  had  been 
floating  ever  since  on  the  piece  of  wreck*  without  any  other 
sustenance  than  a  little  rain  water.  They  stated  that  they 
were  a  month  out  of  Charleston. 

We  regard  with  admiration  the  steadiness  and  spirit  with 
which,  according  to  the  account  of  his  enemy,  Capt.  Biddle 
commenced  this  action,  against  a  force  so  vastly  his  supe- 
rior ;  and,  although  victory  was  almost  hopeless,  even  had 
all  his  vessels  behaved  equally  well  with  his  own  ship,  we 
find  it  difficult,  under  the  circumstances,  to  suppose  that  this 
gallant  seaman  did  not  actually  contemplate  carrying  his 
powerful  antagonist,  most  probably  by  boarding.* 


ns 


*  Nicholas  Biddle  was  descended  from  one  of  those  respectable  fami- 
lies that  first  peopled  West-Jersey,  in  the  last  quarter  of  the  seventeenth 
century.  He  was  the  sixth  son  of  William  Biddle,  of  that  colony,  who 
1.  '^.  removed  to  the  city  of  Philadelphia  previously  to  lus  birth,  and 
^i.\  this  child  was  bom,  in  1750.  Young  Biddle  went  to  sea  at  thirteen, 
"^  i  iMm  that  early  ag^  appears  to  have  devoted  himself  to  the  calling 
with  ardour  and  perseverance.  After  several  voyages,  and  suffering  much 
in  the  way  of  shipwreck,  he  went  to  England,  and  by  means  of  letters, 
was  rated  as  a  midshipman  on  board  a  British  sloop  of  war,  commanded 
by  Captain,  afterwards  Admiral,  Sterling.  It  is  a  singular  fact  in  the  life 
of  this  remarkable  young  man,  that  he  subsequently  entered  on  board  one 
of  the  vessels  sent  towards  the  North  Pole,  under  the  Hon.  Capt.  Phipps, 
where  he  found  Nelson,  a  volunteer  like  himself.  Both  were  made  cock- 
swains by  tlie  commodore.  This  was  in  1773,  and  the  difficulties  with  the 
American  colonies  were  coming  to  a  head.  In  1775,  Mr.  Biddle  returned 
home,  prepared  to  share  his  country's  fortunes,  in  weal  or  woe. 
'  The  first  employment  of  Mr.  Biddle,  in  the  public  service,  was  in  com- 
mand of  a  galley,  called  the  Camden,  fitted  out  by  the  colony  for  the  de- 
fence of  the  Delaware.  From  this  station  he  was  transferred  to  the  service 
of  Congress,  or  put  into  the  regular  marine,  as  it  then  existed,  and  given 
the  command  of  the  brig  Andrea  Dona  14.  In  this  vessel  he  does  not 
appear  to  have  had  much  share  in  the  combat  with  the  Glasgow,  though 
present  in  the  squadron,  and  in  the  expedition  against  New-Providence. 
His  successful  cruise  to  the  eastward,  in  the  Doria,  has  been  related  in  the 
body  of  the  work,  and  on  his  return  he  wns  appointed  to  the  Randolph  32, 
the  vessel  in  which  he  perished. 

In  the  action  with  the  Yarmouth,  Capt.  Biddle  was  severely  wounded  in 


*VS 


.iiit. 


.j-Jti 


!;*■ 


»!■• 


■*% 


^. 


148 


KAVAL  HtSTORT. 


■■* 


t 


■#- 


In  March,  1777,  the  United  States'  brig  Cabot,  Capt. 
Olney,  was  chased  ashore,  on  the  coast  of  Nova  Scotia,  by 
the  British  frigate  M ilford,  which  pressed  the  Cabot  so  hard 
that  there  was  barely  time  to  get  the  people  out  of  the  brig. 
Capt.  Olney  and  his  crew  retreated  into  the  woods,  and 
subsequently  they  made  their  escape  by  seizing  a  schooner, 
in  which  they  arrived  safe  at  home.  The  enemy,  after  a 
long  trial,  got  the  Cabot  off,  and  she  was  subsequently  taken 
into  the  British  navy. 

Shortly  after  this  loss,  or  on  the  19th  of  April,  the  Trum- 
bull 28,  Capt.  Saltonstall,  fell  in  with,  off  New  York,  and 
captured,  after  a  smart  action,  two  armed  transports,  with 
stores  of  value  on  board.  In  this  affair  the  enemy  suffered 
severely  in  casualties,  and  the  Trumbull  herself  had  7  men 
killed  and  8  wounded. 

The  Hancock  32,  Capt  Manly,  with  the  Boston  24,  Capt. 
Hector  McNiel,  in  company,  fell  in  with  the  Rainbow  44, 
Sir  George  Collier,  accompanied  by  the  Victor  brig.  It 
would  seem  that  Capt.  Manly  had  at  first  intended  to  en- 
gage the  enemy,  but  the  Boston  making  sail  to  escape, 
the  Hancock  was  compelled  to  imitate  her  example.    The 

the  thigh,  and  he  is  said  to  have  been  seated  In  a  chair,  with  the  surgeon 
examining  his  hurt,  when  his  ship  blew  up.  His  death  occurred  at  the 
early  age  of  twenty-seven,  and  he  died  unmarried,  though  engaged,  at  the 
time,  to  a  lady  in  Charleston. 

Thertf  is  little  question  that  Nicholas  Biddle  would  have  risen  to  high 
rank  and  great  consideration,  had  his  life  been  spared.  Ardent,  ambi- 
tious, fearless,  intelligent,  and  persevering,  he  had  all  the  qualities  of  a 
great  naval  captain,  and,  though  possessing  some  local  family  influence 
perhaps,  he  rose  to  the  station  he  filled  at  so  early  an  age,  by  personal 
merit.  For  so  short  a  career,  scarcely  any  other  had  been  so  brilliantt  for 
though  no  victories  over  regular  cruisers  accompanied  his  exertions,  he 
had  ever  been  successful  until  the  fatal  moment  when  he  so  gloriously 
fell.  His  loss  was  greatly  regretted  in  the  midst  of  the  excitement  and 
vicissitudes  of  a  revolution,  and  can  scarcely  be  appreciated  by  those  who 
do  not  understand  the  influence  that  such  a  character  can  produce  on  a 
small  and  infant  service.  .  ,   ..  ,r.      . 


■II.        •    , 


'  I         « 


iV 

A 


i 


n 


^i- 


'A- 


i: 


ITAVAL  HISTORY. 


140 


Rainbow  pursued  the  latter,  when  that  ship,  after  a  long  and 
arduous  chase,  in  which  much  seamanship  was  displayed 
on  both  sides,  was  compelled  to  surrender.  Capt  Manly 
was  tried  for  the  1o^  of  his  ship,  and  honourably  acquitted, 
while  Capt.  McNiel  was  dismissed  the  service  for  quitting 
the  Hancock.  The  Hancock  had  previously  captured  the 
British  frigate  Fox  28,  after  a  sharp  contest,  which  vessel 
was  in  company  on  this  occasion,  and  was  recaptured  by  the 
Flora  32,  though  we  regret  that  it  is  not  in  our  power  to 
furnish  any  authentic  details  of  the  action  in  which  the  Fox 
was  taken. 

The  occupation  of  Philadelphia  by  the  British  army  in  this 
year,  wrought  a  material  change  in  the  naval  arrangements 
of  the  country.  Up  to  this  time,  the  Delaware  had  been  a 
safe  place  of  retreat  for  the  different  cruisers,  and  ships  had 
been  constructed  on  its  banks  in  security  and  to  advantage. 
The  largest  town  in  the  United  States,  Philadelphia  offered 
unusual  facilities  for  such  objects,  and  many  public  and  pri- 
vate armed  cruisers  had  been  equipped  at  her  wharves,  pre- 
viously to  the  appearance  of  the  British  forces,  under  Sir 
William  Howe.  That  important  event  completely  altered 
this  state  of  things,  and  the  vessels  that  were  in  the  stream 
at  the  time,  were  cbmpelled  to  move  higher  up  the  river,  or 
to  get  to  sea  in  the  best  manner  they  could.  Unfortunately, 
several  of  the  ships  constructed,  or  purchased,  under  the 
laws  of  1775  were  not  in  a  situation  to  adopt  the  latter  ex- 
pedient, and  they  were  carried  to  different  places  that  were 
supposed  to  offer  the  greatest  security.  -        ^  ': 

Asa  part  of  the  American  vessels  and  galleyis  were  above, 
and  a  part  below  the  town,  the  very  day  after  reaching  the 
capital,  the  English  commenced  the  erection  of  batteries  to 
intercept  the  communications  between  them.  Aware  of 
the  consequences,  the  Delaware  24,  Capt.  Alexander,  and 
Andrea  Doria  14,  seconded  by  some  other  vessels,  belonging 
to  the  navy,  and  to  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  moved  in  front 

13* 


"■ii 


r- 


'I 


v4 


:f, 


190 


NAVAL  HISTORT. 


of  these  works,  and  opened  a  cannonade,  with  a  view  (o 
destroy  them.  The  Delaware  was  so  unfortunately  placed, 
that  when  the  tide  fell,  she  took  the  ground,  and  her  guns 
became  unmanageable.  Some  field  pieces  were  brought  to 
bear  on  her,  while  in  this  helpless  situation,  and  she  neces- 
sarily struck.  The  other  vessels  were  compelled  to  retire. 
As  the  command  of  the  river  was'  now  indispensable  to 
the  British,  they  turned  their  attention  at  once  to  the  de- 
struction of  the  American  works  below  the  town.  An 
unsuccessful  land  attack  was  made  by  the  Hessians,  on 
Red  Bank,  and  this  was  soon  followed  by  another  on  Fort 
Mifflin,  which,  as  it  was  entrusted  to  the  shipping,  comes 
more  properly  within  our  observation.  With  a  view  to  effect 
the  reduction,  or  abandonment  of  Fort  Mifflin,  the  British 
assembled  a  squadron  of  ships  of  a  light  draught  of  water, 
among  which  was  the  Augusta  64,  which  had  been  partially 
stripped,  and  fitted  in  some  measure  as  a  floating  battery. 
As  soon  as  the  troops  advanced  against  Red  Bank,  as  stated, 
the  ships  began  to  move,  but  some  chevaux  de  frise  anchored 
in  the  river,  had  altered  its  channel,  and  the  Augusta,  and 
the  Merlin  sloop  of  war,  got  fast,  in  unfavourable  positions. 
Some  firing  between  the  other  vessels  and  the  American 
works  and  galleys  now  took  place,  but  was  soon  put  a  stop 
to  by  the  approach  of  night.  The  next  day  the  action  was 
renewed  with  spirit,  the  Roebuck  44,  Isis  32,  Pearl  32,  and 
Liverpool  28,  being  present,  in  addition  to  the  Augusta  and 
Merlin.  P'ire  ships  were  ineffectually  employed  by  the 
Americans,  but  the  cannonade  became  heavy.  In  the 
midst  of  the  firing,  it  is  said,  that  some  pressed  hay,  which 
had  been  secured  to  the  quarter  of  the  Augusta,  to  render 
her  shot-proof,  took  fire,  and  the  ship  was  soon  in  flames. 
It  now  became  necessary  to  withdraw  the  other  vessels,  in 
order  to  escape  the  effects  of  the  explosion,  in  so  narrow  a 
passage,  and  the  attack  was  abandoned.  The  Augusta 
blew  up,  and  the  Merlin  having  been  set  fire  to  by  the 


,'/ 


'%    m- 


. .,  f^j 


?l& 


v_.,;^«: 


HAVAt  HISTORY. 


!■■)* 


161 


■/ 


^'British,  shared  the  same  fate.  A  number  of  the  crew  of  the 
Augusta  were  lost  in  that  ship,  the  conflagration  being  so 
rapid  as  to  prevent  their  removal.  A  second  and  better 
concerted  attack,  however,  shortly  after,  compelled  the 
Americans  to  evacuate  the  works,  when  the  enemy  got 
command  of  the  river  from  the  capes  to  the  town.  This 
state  of  things  induced  the  Americans  to  dijstroy  the  few 
sea  vessels  tint  -  lined  below  Philade'"H«n.  among  which 
were  the  t .  ".  hr  \ndrea  Doria  14,  a.  schooner  Wasp 
8,  and  it  is  believed  the  Hornet  10,  though  the  galleys,  by 
following  the  Jersey  shore,  were  enabled  to  escape  above. 

While  these  important  movements  were  occurring  in  the 
middle  states,  the  Raleigh,  a  line  twelve  pounder  frigate,  that 
had  been  constructed  in  New  Hampshire,  under  the  law  of 
1775,  was  enabled  to  get  to  sea  for  the  first  time.  She  was 
commanded  by  Capt.  Thompson,  the  officer  who  appears 
as  sixth  on  the  line,  and  sailed  in  company  with  the  Alfred 
24,  Capt.  Hinman.  These  two  ships  went  to  sea,  short  of 
men,  bound  to  France,  where  military  stores  were  in  waiting 
to  be  transported  to  America. 

The  Raleigh  and  Alfred  had  a  good  run  off  the  coast,  and 
they  made  several  prizes  of  little  value  during  the  first  few 
days  of  their  passage.  On  the  2d  of  Sept.  they  overtook 
and  captured  a  snow,  called  the  Nancy,  which  had  been 
left  by  the  outward  bound  Windward  Island  fleet,  the 
previous  day.  Ascertaining  from  his  prisoners  the  position 
of  the  West  Indiamen,  Capt.  Thompson  made  sail  in  chase. 
The  fleet  was  under  the  charge  of  the  Camel,  Druid,  Weasel 
and  Grasshopper,  the  first  of  which  is  said  to  have  had  an 
armament  of  twelve  pounders.  The  following  day,  or  Sept. 
3d,  1777,  the  Raleigh  made  the  convoy  from  her  mast  heads, 
and  by  sunset  was  near  enough  to  ascertain  that  there  were 
sixty  sail,  a»  well  as  the  positions  of  the  men  of  war.  Capt. 
Thompson  had  got  the  signals  of  the  fleet  from  his  prize, 
and  he  now  signalled  the  Alfred,  as  if  belonging  to  the  con- 


•4- 


t. 


153 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


'\1 


K> 


t      •* 


voy.  After  dark  he  spoke  his  consort,  and  directed  her 
commK.nder  to  keep  near  him,  it  being  his  intention  to  run 
in  among  the  enemy,  and  lay  the  commodore  aboard.  At  this 
time,  the  two  American  ships  were  to  windward,  but  nearly 
astern. 

In  the  course  of  the  night  the  wind  shifted  to  the  north- 
ward, and  the  convoy  hauled  by  the  wind,  bringing  the 
American  ships  to  leeward.  At  daylight  the  wind  had 
freshened,  and  it  became  necessary  to  carry  more  sail  than 
the  Alfred,  (a  tcndor>sided  ship)  could  bear.  Here  occurred 
one  of  those  instances  of  the  unfortunate  consequences  which 
must  always  follow  the  employment  of  vessels  of  unequal 
qualities  in  the  same  squadron,  or  the  employment  of  officers 
not  trained  in  the  same  high  school.  The  Alfred  would  not 
bear  her  canvass,  and  while  the  Raleigh  fetched  handsomely 
into  the  fleet,  under  double-reefed  topsails,  the  former  fell  to 
leeward  more  than  a  league.  Capt.  Thompson  did  not  dare 
to  shorten  sail,  lest  his  character  might  be  suspected,  and 
despairing  of  being  supported  by  the  Alfred,  he  stood  boldly 
in  among  the  British  ships  alone,  and  hove  his  ship  to,  in 
order  to  permit  the  merchantmen  astern  to  draw  more  ahead 
of  him.  ■■;  ■■\,  ■■  ,:■■'•'>■  ^v  •-.  '.  ,  "-  \.-''. '^v"-;::-'-^'-^;!!&^:;' m^'-L'^ 
.  When  his  plan  was  laid,  Capt.  Thompson  filled  away,  and 
stood  directly  through  the  convoy,  lufling  up  towards  the 
vessel  of  war  that  was  most  to  windward.  In  doing  this  he 
spoke  several  of  the  merchantmen,  to  which  he  gave  orders 
how  to  steer,  as  if  belonging  himself  to  the  fleet,  repeating 
all  the  commodore's  signals.  Up  to  this  moment  the  Raleigh 
appears  to  have  escaped  detection,  nor  had  she  had  any 
signs  of  preparation  about  her,  as  her  guns  were  housed, 
and  her  ports  lowered.      " /.       .  ^  ^..•r^vA^ 

Having  obtained  a  weatherly  position,  the  Raleigh  now 
ran  along  side  of  the  vessel  of  war,  and  when  within  pistol 
shot,  she  hauled  up  her  courses,  run  out  her  guns,  set  her 
ensign,  and  commanded  the  enemy  to  strike.   So  completely 


4: 


^•;s'- 


ti 


?\-.'.* 

M 


ITAVAL  HISTORT. 


158 


was  this  vessel  taken  by  surprise,  that  the  order  threw  her 
into  groat  confusion,  and  even  her  sails  got  aback.  The 
Raleigh  seized  this  favourable  moment  to  pour  in  a  broad- 
side, which  was  feebly  returned.  The  enemy  were  soon 
driven  from  their  guns,  and  the  Raleigh  fired  twelve  broad- 
sides into  the  English  ship  in  twenty  minutes,  scarcely  re- 
ceiving a  shot  in  return.  A  heavy  swell  rendered  the  aim 
uncertain,  but  it  was  evident  that  the  British  vessel  suffered 
severely,  and  this  the  more  so,  as  she  was  of  inferior  force. 

A  squall  had  come  on,  and  at  first  it  shut  in  the  two  ships 
engaged.  When  it  cleared  away,  the  convoy  was  seen 
steering  in  all  directions,  in  the  utmost  confusion,  but  the 
vessels  of  war,  with  several  heavy  well  armed  West  India- 
men,  tacked  and  hauled  up  for  the  Raleigh,  leaving  no  doubt 
of  their  intentions  to  engage.  The  frigate  lay  by  her  adver- 
sary until  the  other  vessels  were  so  near,  that  it  became 
absolutely  necessary  to  quit  her,  and  then  she  ran  to  lee- 
ward and  joined  the  Alfred.  Here  she  shortened  sail,  and 
waited  for  the  enemy  to  come  down,  but  it  being  near  dark, 
the  British  commodore  tacked  and  hauled  in  among  his  con- 
voy again.  The  Raleigh  and  Alfred  kept  near  this  fleet 
for  several  days,  but  no  provocation  could  induce  the  ves- 
sels of  war  to  come  out  of  it,  and  it  was  finally  abandoned. 

The  ship  engaged  by  the  Raleigh,  proved  to  be  the 
Druid  30.  She  was  much  cut  up,  and  the  official  report  of 
her  commander,  made  her  loss  six  killed,  and  twenty-six 
wounded.  Of  the  latter,  five  died  soon  after  the  action,  and 
among  the  wounded  was  Capt  Carteret.  The  Druid  was 
unable  to  pursue  the  voyage  and  returned  to  England. 

In  this  aflfair,  Capt.  Thompson  discovered  a  proper  spirit, 
for  he  might  easily  have  cut  out  of  the  fleet  half  a  dozen 
merchantmen,  but  he  appears  to  have  acted  on  the  princi- 
ple that  vessels  of  war  should  first  seek  vessels  of  war.  The 
Raleigh  had  three  men  killed  and  wounded  in  the  engage- 
ment, and  otherwise  sustained  but  little  injury. 


« 

4 


104 


If  AVAL  HISTORr. 


The  commerce  of  England  suflered  a  loss  of  467  sail  of 
merchantmen,  during  the  year  1777,  some  of  which  were  of 
great  value,  though  the  government  kept  a  force  of  about 
seventy  sail  of  men  of  war  on  the  American  coast  alone. 
Manly  American  privateers  fell  into  their  hands  however, 
and  a  scarcity  of  men  began  to  be  felt,  in  consequence  of 
the  numbers  that  were  detained  in  the  English  prisons.  It 
was  on  the  14th  of  Juno  of  this  year,  that  Congress  finally 
established  the  stars  and  stripes  as  the  flag  of  the  nation. 

During  this  year,  Bushnel  made  several  unsuccessful  at- 
tempts to  blow  up  the  ships  of  the  enemy  by  means  of  tor- 
pedoes, a  species  of  warfare  that  it  can  hardly  be  regretted 
has  so  uniformly  failed. 


.   '  '•    •■  .V-     > 


'1       .    ,/    ■'-,■■ 


-^^•■.r<.:  ;  .  ., 


■■   .   •(■ 


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"'*-i.- .     '^c'  *  -t^ 


7,:j;"  ■■■•     '•     '     -r:  i  •  .    .  vs  (    .,     .-,       r  . 


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C. 


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.<    l,f      ,,-'••'       ■     s.l'-l^.  ic,• 


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If .  i-.-  1 


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^^v. 


'# 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


16S 


\i 


•4?- 


CHAPTER  VIII. 


■« 


The  year  1778  opened  with  cheerful  prospects  for  the 
great  cause  of  American  Independence.  The  capture  of 
fiurgoyne,  and  the  growing  discontents  in  Europe,  render* 
ing  a  French  alliance,  and  a  European  war,  daily  nore 
probable.  These  results,  in  truth,  soon  after  followed,  and 
from  that  moment,  the  entire  policy  of  the  L^nited  States,  as 
related  to  its  marine,  was  changed.  Previous  to  this  great 
event,  Congress  had  often  turned  its  attention  towards  the 
necessity  of  building  or  purchasing  vessels  of  force,  in 
order  to  interrupt  that  absolute  control  which  the  enemy 
possessed,  in  the  immediate  waters  of  the  country,  and 
'which  even  superseded  the  necessity  of  ordinary  costly 
blockades,  as  two  or  three  heavy  frigates  had  been  able,  at 
any  time  since  the  commencement  of  the  struggle,  to  com- 
mand the  entrance  of  the  different  bays  and  sounds. 

The  French  fleet,  soon  after  the  war  between  England 
and  France  broke  out,  appeared  in  the  American  seas,  and, 
in  a  measure,  relieved  the  country  from  a  species  of  war- 
fare that  was  particularly  oppressive  to  a  nation  that  was 
then  so  poor,  and  which  possessed  so  great  an  extent  of 

coast.      '    •'-.  '"-'^  '■  ",  , ■:  '■  •         "■■  ■'■' '  ■■  •  •  . ..'     --'■>  r-^: 

■*  As  the  occupation  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia  pre- 
vented several  of  the  new  frigates  from  getting  to  sea  at 
all,  or  occasioned  their  early  loss.  Congress  had  endea- 
voured to  repair  lliese  deficiencies  by  causing  other  vessels 
to  be  built,  or  purchased,  at  points  where  they  would  be  out 
of  danger  from  any  similar  misfortune.    Among  these  ships 


■* 


"W 


.h^^\> 


.'^ 


IM 


iTAVAi.  liHrroiiy. 


■''  :  ' 


were  the  Alliance  32,  Confederacy  82,  Deane  32,  (afterwards 
called  the  Hague,)  and  Queen  of  France  28,  all  frigate«built, 
and  the  Ranger,  Gates,  and  Saratoga  sloopi  of  war.  To 
these  were  added  a  few  other  vessels,  that  were  either 
bought,  or  borrowed  in  Europe,  which  will  be  mentioned  in 
their  proper  places.  The  Alliance,  which,  as  her  name  in- 
dicates, was  launched  about  the  time  the  treaty  was  made 
with  France,  was  the  favourite  ship  of  the  American  navy, 
and  it  might  be  added,  of  the  American  nation,  during  the 
war  of  the  Revolution ;  filling  some  such  space  in  the  public 
mind,  as  has  since  been  occupied  by  her  more  celebrated 
successor,  the  Constitution.  She  was  a  beautiful  and  an 
exceedingly  fast  ship,  but,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  sequel,  was 
rendered  less  efficient  than  she  might  otherwise  have 
proved,  by  the  mistake  of  placing  her  under  the  command 
of  a  French  officer,  who  had  entered  the  service,  with  a 
view  to  pay  a  compliment  to  the  new  allies  of  the  republic. 
This  unfortunate  selection  produced  mutinies,  much  discon- 
tent among  the  officers,  and,  in  the  end,  grave  irregulari- 
ties. The  Alliance  was  built  at  Salisbury,  in  Massachu- 
setts, a  place,  that  figured  as  a  building  station,  even  in  the 
seventeenth  century.  ,.       :  .  „< 

The  naval  op.  -ations  of  the  year  open  with  a  gallant 
little  exploit,  achieved  by  the  United  States  sloop  Provi- 
dence 12,  Capt.  Rathbone.  This  vessel  carried  only  four 
pounders,  and,  at  the  time,  is  said  to  have  had  a  crew  of  but 
fifty  men  on  board.  Notwithstanding  this  trifling  force, 
Capt.  Rathbone  made  a  descent  on  the  Island  of  New  Provi- 
dence, at  the  head  of  twenty-five  men.  He  was  joined  by 
a  few  American  prisoners,  less  than  thirty,  it  is  said,  and, 
while  a  privateer  of  sixteen  guns,  with  a  crew  of  near  50 
men,  lay  in  the  harbour,  he  seized  the  forts,  got  possession 
of  the  stores,  and  eflectually  obtained  command  of  the 
place.  All  the  vessels  in  port,  six  in  number,  fell  into  his 
hands,  and  an  attempt  of  the  armed  population  to  overpower 


iX 


><■  ■ 


« 


^-   .■ 


-ii> 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


167 


'.» 


him,  was  put  down,  by  a  menace  to  burn  the  town.  A 
British  sloop  of  war  appeared  off  the  harbojr,  while  the 
Americans  were  in  possession,  but,  ascerttining  that  an 
enemy  was  occupying  the  works,  she  retir  jd,  after  having 
been  fired  on.  The  following  day,  the  people  assembled  in 
such  force,  as  seriously  to  threaten  the  safety  of  his  party 
and  vessel,  and  Copt.  Rathbone  caused  the  guns  of  the  fort 
to  be  spiked,  removed  all  the  ammunition  and  smoll  arms, 
burned  two  of  his  prizes,  and  sailed  with  the  remainder, 
without  leaving  a  man  behind  him.  In  his  daring  little 
enterprise,  the  Americans  held  the  place  two  entire  days. 

Capt.  John  Barry,  whose  spirited  action  off  th^j  cap'^jj  of 
Virginia,  in  the  Lexington  14,  has  been  n.entione  ^  and 
whose  capture  of  the  Edward,  on  that  occasion,  is  worthy 
of  note,  as  having  been  the  first  of  any  vessel  of  war,  tha; 
was  ever  made  by  a  regular  American  cruiser  ip  I'.ttle, 
was  placed  on  the  regulated  list  of  October,  1776  as  the 
seventh  captain,  and  appointed  to  the  command  of  the 
Effingham  28,  then  building  at  Philadelphia.  The  Effing- 
ham was  one  of  the  vessels  that  had  been  taken  up  the 
Delaware,  to  escape  from  the  British  army;  and  this  gallant 
officer,  wearied  with  a  life  of  inactivity,  planned  an  expedi- 
tion down  the  stream,  in  the  hope  of  striking  a  blow  at 
some  of  the  enemy's  vessels  anchored  off,  or  below  the 
town.  Manning  four  boats,  he  pulled  down  with  the  tide. 
Some  alarm  was  given  when  opposite  th"  town,  but  dashing 
ahead,  the  barges  got  past  without  inju-  j  .  Off  Port  Penn 
lay  an  enemy's  schooner  of  ten  guns,  and  four  transports, 
with  freight  for  the  British  armv,  The  schooner  was 
boarded  and  carried,  without  loss,  and  the  transports  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  Americans  also.  Two  cruisers  ap- 
pearing soon  after  in  the  river,  however,  Capt.  Barry  des- 
troyed his  prizes,  and  escaped  by  land,  without  losing  a 
man. 

Following   the  order  of  time,  we  now   return  to  the 

Vol.  I 14 


4- 


f 


iMt^si-i 


156 


VAVAL  HISTORY. 


movremcnts  of  the  two  ships  under  the  command  of  Gapt. 
Thompson,  the  Raleigh  and  the  Alfred.  After  taking  in 
military  stores  in  France,  these  vessels  sailed  for  America, 
making  a  circuit  to  the  southward,  as  was  then  quite  usual 
with  cruisers  thus  employed,  in  order  to  avoid  the  enemy's 
vessels  of  force,  and  to  pick  up  a  few  prizes  by  the  way. 
They  sailed  from  TOrient  in  February,  1778,  and  on  the 
9th  of  March,  were  chased  by  the  British  ships  Ariadne 
and  Ceres,  which  succeeded  in  getting  along  side  of  the 
Alfred,  and  engaging  her,  while  the  Raleigh  was  at  a  dis- 
tance. Believing  a  contest  fruitless,  after  exchanging  a  few 
broadsides,  the  Alfred  struck,  and  the  Raleigh,  though  hard 
pressed,  in  the  chase  that  succeeded,  made  her  escape. 
Capt.  Thompson  was  blamed  in  the  journals  of  the  day, 
for  not  aiding  his  consort  on  this  occasion;  and  he  appears 
to  have  been  superseded  in  the  command  of  his  ship,  to 
await  the  result  of  a  trial. 

The  British  accounts  state  the  force  of  the  Alfred,  at  the 
time  of  her  capture,  at  twenty  nine-pounders,  which  will 
give  us  a  more  accurate  idea  of  the  real  character  of  a 
vessel  that  filled  so  prominent  a  situation  in  the  navy,  at  its 
formation.  Twenty  nine-pounders,  would  not  probably 
raise  her  above  the  rate  of  an  English  twenty  gun  ship, 
even  allowing  her  to  have  had  a  few  sixes  on  her  quarter- 
deck and  forecastle;  and  this,  probably,  was  the  true  class 
of  both  the  Alfred  and  Columbus,  ships  that  figure  as 
twenty-eights,  and  even  as  thirty-twos,  in  some  of  the  earlier 
accounts  of  the  war.  But,  it  should  always  be  remembered, 
that  a  disposition  to  exaggerate  the  power  of  the  country, 
by  magnifying  the  force  of  the  ships,  a  practice  peculiar  to 
an  infant  and  aspiring  ))cople,  was  a  fault  of  the  popular  ac- 
counts of  not  only  the  Revolution,  but  of  a  still  later  period 
in  the  history  of  the  United  States.  ^* 

Among  the  frigates  ordered  by  the  act  of  1776,  was  one 
called  the  Virginia  28,  which  had  been  laid  down  in  Mary- 


^'k 


lone 
Lry- 


HAVAL  HISTORT. 


159 


land.  To  this  vessel  was  assigned  Capt.  James  Nicholson, 
the  senior  captain  on  the  list,  an  officer  who  had  already 
discovered  conduct  and  spirit  in  an  affair  with  one  of  the 
enemy's  tenders  off  Annapolis,  while  serving  in  the  local 
marine  of  Maryland.  The  great  embarrassments  which 
attended  most  of  the  public  measures  of  the  day,  and  a  vigi- 
lant blockade,  prevented  the  Virginia  from  getting  to  sea, 
until  the  spring  of  this  year,  when,  having  received  her  crew 
and  equipments,  she  made  the  attempt  on  the  30th  of  March. 

The  frigate  appears  to  have  followed  another  vessel  down 
the  Chesapeake,  under  the  impression  that  the  best  pilot  of 
the  bay  was  in  charge  of  her.  About  three  in  the  morning, 
however,  she  struck  on  the  middle  ground,  over  which  she 
beat  with  ^e  loss  of  her  rudder.  The  ship  was  immedi- 
ately anchored.  Day  discovered  two  English  vessels  of 
war  at  no  great  distance,  when  Capt.  Nicholson  got  ashore 
with  his  papers,  and  the  ship  was  taken  possession  of  by 
the  enemy.  An  inquiry,  instituted  by  Congress,  acquitted 
Capt.  Nicholson  of  blame.  The  peculiarity  of  a  com- 
mander's abandoning  his  vessel  under  such  circumstances, 
gave  rise  to  some  comments  at  the  time,  but  the  result  ren- 
ders it  probable  that  considerations  of  importance,  that 
were  not  generally  known,  induced  the  step.  A  trial  was 
not  deemed  necessary,  and  Capt.  Nicholson  subsequently 
fought  two  of  the  most  remarkable  combats  of  the  war, 
though  successful  in  neither. 

But  merit  in  warfare  is  not  always  to  be  measured  by 
success,  and  least  of  all,  in  a  profession  that  is  liable  to  so 
many  accidents  and  circumstances  that  lie  beyond  the  con- 
trol of  man.  An  unexpected  shift  of  wind,  the  sudden  loss 
of  an  important  spar,  or  the  unfortunate  injury  occasioned 
by  a  single  shot,  may  derange  the  best  devised  schemes,  or 
enfeeble  the  best  appointed  ship;  and  it  is  in  repairing  these 
unexpected  damages,  in  the  steadiness,  and  order,  and  sub- 
mission to  authority,  with  which  casualities  are  met,  as  well 


>.! 


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m' 


«,   'h 


'^    ^ 


i'^}i 


160 


IfAVAL  HISTORY. 


.>t' 


I  <■„* 


as  in  the  greater  effect  of  their  attack,  that  the  trained  offi- 
cers and  men  manifest  their  vast  superiority  over  the  hurried 
and  confused  movements  of  those  who  are  wanting  in  these 
high  qualities  of  discipline. 

Leaving  the  ocean  for  a  moment,  we  will  now  turn  our 
attention  to  the  proceedings  of  the  enemy  again,  in  the  De- 
laware. Early  ia  May,  an  expedition  left  Philadelphia, 
under  the  command  of  Major  Maitland,  and  ascended  that 
river  with  ^  view  to  destroy  the  American  shipping,  which 
had  been  cnrried  up  it  to  escape  the  invading  and  success- 
ful army  of  the  enemy.  The  force  consisted  of  the  schoon- 
ers Viper  and  Pembroke;  the  Hussar,  Cornwallis,  Ferret 
and  Philadelphia  galleys;  four  gun  boats,  and  eighteen  flat 
boats,  under  the  orders  of  Capt.  Henry,  of  the  navy.  The 
2nd  battalion  of  the  light-infantry,  and  two  field  pieces 
composed  the  troops.  Ascending  the  stream  to  a  point 
above  Bristol,  the  troops  landed,  under  cover  of  the  guns  of 
the  flotilla,  without  opposition.  Indeed,  there  does  not  ap- 
pear to  have  been  any  force  to  oppose  the  British  on  this 
occasion,  or,  if  any,  one  of  so  little  moment,  as  to  put  a 
serious  contest  out  of  the  question.  The  Washington  32, 
and  Efilngham  28,  both  of  which  had  been  built  at  Phil- 
adelphia, but  had  never  got  to  sea,  were  burned.  These 
ships  had  not  yet  received  their  armaments.  At  this 
point  several  other  vessels  were  destroyed,  privateers  and 
merchantmen,  and  the  party  proceeded  to  Croswell  creek* 
where  the  privateer  Sturdy  Beggar  18,  and  eight  sail  of 
other  vessels  were  set  on  fire  and  consumed.  The  next 
day  the  British  ascended  to  Bile's  Island,  and  burned  six 
more  craft,  foui  of  which  were  pierced  for  guns.  On  des- 
cending by  land  lo  Bristol,  a  ship  and  a  brig  were  destroy- 
ed. After  this,  four  new  ships,  a  neW  brig,  and  an. old 
schooner  were  burned  by  the  galleys^  the  party  returning  to 
Philadelphia  that  night,  without  losing  a  man.  By  thig 
coup  de  main,  the  Americans  lost  two  more  of  the  frigates 


-V^%:.:-^'        t.K^- 


W 


':S[^c.'-^%.^. 


^-^ 


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'■   ■  '^^^  ' 


1t 


:%- 


•^      '• 


•t 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


161 


HI 


to 

lis  > 


authorized  by  the  law  of  1775;  and  though  it  is  not  now 
easy  to  ascertain  facts  so  minute,  it  is  believed  that  two  or 
three  of  the  smallest  of  the  cruisers  that  appear  on  the  list 
of  the  navy,  at  its  formation,  were  destroyed  by  the  Eng- 
lish on  this  occasion.  The  Hornet,  Sachem,  Independence 
and  Musquito,  are  not  to  be  traced  subsequently  to  this 
period,  and  if  not  burned  when  this  expedition  occurred,  it 
is  probable  that  they  all  were  burned  with  the  Wasp,  in 
1777.  To  compensate  for  these  losses,  not  a  single  frigate 
of  the  enemy  had  yet  been  brought  into  port,  though  the 
Fox  28,  had  been  captured. 

About  this  time  the  celebrated  Paul  Jones,  whose  conduct 
as  a  lieutenant  in  the  Alfred,  and  in  command  of  that  ship, 
as  well  as  in  that  of  the  Providence  12,  had  attracted  much 
attention,  appeared  in  the  European  seas  in  command  of  the 
Ranger  18.  Qo  cautious  had  the  American  government  got 
to  be,  in  consequence  of  the  British  remonstrances,  that 
orders  were  given  to  the  Ranger  to  conceal  her  armament 
while  in  France.  This  vessel,  which  is  described  as  having 
been  both  crank  and  slow,  was  not  thought  worthy  of  so 
good  an  officer,  by  the  marine  committee,  and  it  had  pro- 
mised him  a  better  ship;  but  the  exigencies  of  the  service 
did  not  admit  of  its  fulfilment  of  the  engagement,  and  Capt. 
Jones,  after  a  long  delay,  had  been  induced  to  take  this 
command,  in  preference  to  remaining  idle.  It  is  said,  how- 
ever, that  he  came  to  Europe  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  the 
Indien,  but  that  vessel  had  been  presented  to  the  King  of 
France  previously  to  his  arrival. 

After  going  into  Brest  to  refit,  Capt.  Jones  sailed  from 
that  port  on  the  10th  of  April,  1778,  on  a  cruise  in  the  Irish 
Channel.  As  the  Ranger  passed  along  the  co&sl,  she  made 
several  prizes,  and  getting  as  high  as  Whitehaven,  Capt. 
Jones  determined,  on  the  17th,  to  make  an  at'ompt  to  burn 
the  colliers  that  were  crowded  in  that  narrow  port.  The 
weather,  however,  prevented  the  execution  of  this  project, 

14* 


^ 


■». 


■^ 


"#^jfir 


■^ 


«>.■ 


*■<..  ■' 


162 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


> 


<*« 


and  the  ship  proceeded  as  high  as  Glentine  bay,  on  the  coast 
of  Scotland,  where  she  chased  a  revenue  vessel  without 
success. 

Quitting  the  Scottish  coast,  the  Ranger  next  crossed  to 
Ireland,  and  arriving  off  Carrickfergus,  she  was  boarded  by 
some  fishermen.  From  these  men  Capt.  Jones  ascertained 
that  a  ship  which  lay  anchored  in  the  roads  was  the  Drake 
sloop  of  war,  Capt.  Burden,  a  vessel  of  a  force  about  equal 
to  that  of  the  Ranger,  and  he  immediately  conceived  a  plan 
to  run  in  and  take  her.  Preparations  were  accordingly 
made,  and  darkness  was  only  waited  for,  to  make  the 
attempt. 

It  blew  fresh  in  the  night,  but  when  the  proper  hour  had 
arrived,  tl)c  Ranger  stood  for  the  roads,  having  accurately 
obtained  the  bearings  of  her  enemy.  The  orders  of  Capt. 
Jones  w^ere  to  overlay  the  cable  of  the  Drake,  and  to  bring 
up  on  her  bows,  where  he  intended  to  secure  his  own  ship, 
and  abide  the  result.  By  some  mistake,  the  anchor  was  not 
let  go  in  season,  and  instead  of  fetching  up  in  the  desired 
position,  the  Ranger  could  not  be  checked  until  she  had 
drifted  on  the  quarter  of,  and  at  distance  of  half  a  cable's 
length  from,  the  Drake.  Perceiving  that  his  object  was  de- 
feated, Capt.  Jones  ordered  the  cable  to  be  cut,  when  the 
ship  drifted  astern,  and,  making  sail,  she  hauled  by  the  wind 
again  as  soon  as  possible.  The  gale  increased,  and  it  was 
with  difficulty  that  the  Ranger  weathered  the  land,  and  re- 
gained the  channel. 

Capt.  Jones  now  stood  over  to  the  English  coast,  and  be- 
lieving the  time  more  favourable,  he  attempted  to  execute 
his  former  design  on  the  shipping  in  the  port  of  Whitehaven. 
Two  parties  landed  in  the  night ;  the  forts  were  seized  and 
the  guns  were  spiked;  the  few  look-outs  that  were  in  the 
works  being  confined.  In  effecting  this  duty,  Capt.  Jones 
was  foremost  in  person,  for,  having  once  sailed  out  of  the 
port,  he  was  familiar  with  the  situation  of  the  place,    ^n 


r.'5»/ 


fcWi'!': 


#fl^' 


ti 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


163 


accident  common  to  both  the  parties  into  which  the  expedi- 
tion had  been  divided,  came  near  defeating  the  enterprise  in 
the  outset.  They  had  brought  candles  in  lanterns,  for  the 
double  purpose  of  lights  and  torches,  and,  now  that  they 
were  about  to  be  used  as  the  latter,  it  was  found  that  they  were 
all  consumed.  As  the  day  was  appearing,  the  party  under 
Mr.  Wallingford,  one  of  the  lieutenants,  took  to  its  boat 
without  effecting  any  thing,  while  Capt.  Jones  sent  to  a  de- 
tached building  and  obtained  a  candle.  He  boarded  a  large 
ship,  kindled  a  fire  in  her  steerage,  and  by  placing  a  barrel 
of  tar  over  the  spot,  soon  had  the  vessel  in  flames.  As  this 
ship  lay  in  the  midst  of  more  than  a  hundred  others,  high 
and  dry,  the  tide  being  out,  Capt.  Jones  flattered  himself  with 
the  hope  of  signally  revenging  the  depredations  that  the 
enemy  had  so  freely  committed  on  the  American  coast. 
But,  by  this  time,  the  alarm  was  effectually  given,  and  the 
entire  population  appeared  on  the  adjacent  high  ground,  or 
were  seen  rushing  in  numbers  towards  the  shipping.  The 
latter  were  easily  driven  back  by  a  show  of  force,  and  re- 
maining a  sufficient  time,  as  he  thought,  to  make  sure  of  an 
extensive  conflagration,  Capt.  Jones  took  to  his  boats  and 
pulled  towards  his  ship.  Some  guns  were  fired  on  the  re- 
tiring boats  without  effect ;  but  the  people  of  the  place  suc- 
ceeded in  extinguishing  the  flames  before  the  mischief  be- 
came very  extensive.      v     •,  ' 

The  hardihood  and  character  of  this  attempt  produced  a 
great  alarm  along  the  whole  English  coast,  and  from  that 
hour,  even  to  this,  the  name  of  Jones  is  associated,  in  the 
minds  of  the  people  of  Whitehaven,  with  audacity,  destruc- 
tion, and  danger. 

While  cruising,  with  the  utmost  hardihood,  as  it  might  be 
in  the  very  heart  of  the  British  waters,  with  the  coasts  of 
the  three  kingdoms  frequently  in  view  at  the  same  moment, 
Capt.  Jones,  who  was  a  native  of  the  country,  decided  to 
make  an  attempt  to  seize  the  Earl  of  Selkirk,  who  had  a  seat 


i!*- 


.'flfc. 


164 


If  AVAL  HISTOJRT. 


on  St.  Mary's  Isle,  near  the  point  \rhere  the  Dee  flows  into 
the  channel.  A  party  landed,  and  got  possession  of  the  1.  ouse, 
but  its  master  was  absent.  The  officer  in  command  oi  the 
boats  so  far  forgot  himself  as  to  bring  away  a  quantity  of 
the  family  plate,  although  no  other  injury  was  done,  or  any 
insult  oflered.  This  plate,  the  value  of  which  did  not  exceed 
a  hundred  pounds,  was  subsequently  purchased  of  the  crew 
by  Capt.  Jones,  and  returned  to  Lady  Selkirk,  with  a  letter 
expressive  of  his  regrets  at  the  occurrence. 

After  the  landing  mentioned,  the  Rangeronce  more  steered 
%  towards  Ireland,  Capt.  Jones  still  kc;:ping  in  view  his  design 
on  the  Drake,  and  arrived  off  Carrickfergus  again,  on  the 
24th.  The  commander  of  the  latter  ship  sent  out  an  officer,  in 
one  of  his  boats,  to  ascertain  the  character  of  the  stranger. 
^  By  means  of  skilful  handling,  the  Ranger  was  kept  end-on 
to  the  boat,  and  as  the  officer  in  charge  of  the  latter  could 
merely  see  the  ship's  stern,  although  provided  with  a  glass, 
he  suffered  himself  to  be  decoyed  alongside,  and  was  taken. 
From  the  prisoners,  Capt.  Jones  iearned  that  intelligence  of 
his  descents  on  Whitehaven  and  St.  Mary's  Isle  had  reached 
Belfast,  and  that  the  people  of  the  Drake  had  weighed  the 
anchor  he  had  lost  in  his  attempt  on  that  ship.       '    ; 

Under  these  circumstances,  Capt.  Jones  believed  that  the 
commander  of  the  Drake  would  not  long  defer  coming  out 
in  search  of  his  boat;  an  expectation  that  was  shortly  real- 
ized, by  the  appearance  of  the  English  ship  under  way. 
The  Ranger  now  filled  and  stood  off  the  land,  with  a  view 
to  draw  her  enemy  more  into  the  channel,  and  there  lay  to, 
in  waiting  for  the  latter  to  come  on.  Several  small  vessels 
accompanied  the  Drake,  to  witness  the  combat,  and  many 
volunteers  had  gone  on  board  her,  to  assist  in  capturing  the 
American  privateer,  as  it  was  the  fashion  of  the  day  to 
term  the  vessels  of  the  young  republic.  The  tide  being  un- 
favourable, the  Drake  worked  out  of  the  roads  slowly,  and 
night  was  approaching  before  she  drew  near  the  Ranger. 


-•*Nt 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


im 


1 1, 


IP' 


The  Drake,  as  she  got  nigher,  hailed,  and  received  the 
name  of  her  antagonist,  by  way  of  challenge,  with  a  request 
to  come  on.  As  the  two  ships  were  standing  on  in  this 
manner,  the  Drake  a  little  to  leeward  and  astern,  the  Ran* 
ger  put  her  helm  up,  a  manceuvre  that  the  enemy  imitated, 
and  the  former  gave  the  first  broadside,  firing  as  her  guns 
bore.  The  wind  admitted  of  but  few  changes,  but  the  battle 
was  fought  running  free,  under  easy  canvass.  It  lasted  nn 
hour  and  four  minutes,  when  the  Drake  called  for  quarter, 
her  ensign  being  already  down. 

The  English  ship  was  much  cut  up,  both  in  her  hull  and 
aloft,  and  Captain  Jones  computed  her  loss  at  about  forty 
men.  Her  captain  and  lieutenant  were  both  desperately 
wounded,  and  died  shortly  after  the  engagement.  The 
Ranger  suffered  much  less,  having  Lieut.  Wallingford  and 
one  man  killed,  and  six  wounded.  The  Drake  was  not  only 
a  heavier  ship,  but  she  had  a  much  stronger  crew  than  her 
antagonist.    She  had  also  two  guns  the  most. 

After  securing  her  prize  and  repairing  damages,  the  Ran« 
ger  went  round  the  north  of  Ireland,  and  shaped  her  course 
for  Brest.  She  had  several  chases,  but  arrived  safely  at  her 
port,  with  the  Drake,  on  the  8th  of  May. 

Whatever  may  be  thought  of  the  conduct  of  Capt.  Jones, 
in  turning  a  local  knowledge  acquired  in  his  youth,  in  the 
manner  mentioned,  to  such  an  account,  there  can  be  no 
doubt  that  the  course  pursued  by  the  enemy  on  the  Ameri- 
can coast,  would  have  fully  justified  the  act  in  any  other 
officer  in  the  service;  and  it  is  due  to  Capt.  Jones,  to  say, 
that  he  bad,  personally,  been  so  much  vilified  by  the  British 
press,  as  quite  naturally  to  have  weakened  any  remains  of 
national  attachment  that  he  may  formerly  have  entertained. 
The  natives  of  Great  Britain,  that  served  on  the  American 
side,  in  this  great  contest,  were  not  essentially  in  a  position 
different  from  that  of  those  who  had  been  born  in  the  colo- 
nies.   The  war,  in  one  sense,  was  a  civil  war,  and  the  con- 


^ifMi 


*  -  k 


166 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


duct  of  all  who  took  part  in  it,  was  to  be  measured  by  the 
merits  of  the  main  question.  The  Englishman  actually  es- 
tablished in  the  colonies,  when  the  struggle  commenced, 
was  essentially  in  the  situation  of  the  native;  and  if  the  latter 
had  a  moral  right  to  resist  the  encroachments  of  the  British 
Parliament,  it  was  a  right  that  extended  to  the  former, 
since  it  was  not  a  question  of  birth  place  that  was  ai  issue, 
but  one  of  local  and  territorial  interests.  By  transferring 
himseli*  to  England,  the  native  of  America  would  have 
avoided  the  injuries,  and  shared  in  the  advantages  of  the 
ofiensive  policy;  and  by  transferring  himself  to  America, 
the  native  of  England  became  the  subject  of  its  wrongs. 
Both  steps  were  legal,  and  it  follows  as  a  legitimate  conse- 
quence of  such  premises,  that  all  the  moral  as  well  as  legal 
rights  dependent  on  their  exercise  were  carried  with  them. 
Mr.  Silas  Talbot,  of  Rhode  Island,  who  had  been  a 
seaman  in  his  youth,  had  taken  service  in  the  army,  and 
October  10th,  1777,  he  had  been  raised  to  the  rank  of  a 
Major,  to  reward  him  for  a  spirited  attempt  to  set  fire  to 
one  of  the  enemy's  cruisers  in  the  Hudson.  In  the  autumn 
of  the  present  year,  (1778)  Major  Talbot  headed  another 
expedition  against  the  British  schooner  Pigot,  8,  then  lying 
in  the  eastern  passage  between  Rhode  Island  and  the  main 
land,  in  a  small  sloop  that  had  two  light  guns,  and  which 
was  manned  by  60  volunteers.  Major  Talbot  carried  the 
schooner  without  loss,  and  for  his  conduct  and  gallantry 
was  promoted  to  be  a  Lieut.  Colonel.  The  Pigot  had  45 
men,  and  one  heavy  gun  in  her  bows,  besides  the  rest  of  her 
armament.  The  following  year  this  officer  was  transferred 
to  the  navy,  Congress  passing  an  especial  resolution  to  that 
eflfect,  with  directions  to  the  marine  committee  to  give  him 
a  ship  on  the  first  occasion.  It  does  not  appear,  however, 
that  it  was  in  the  power  of  the  committee,  to  appoint  CapL 
Talbot  to  a  government  vessel,  at  that  period  of  the  war, 
and  he  is  believed  to  have  served,  subsequently,  in  a  private 


♦■ 


i*M 


If  AVAL  HISTORY. 


107 


t 


^ 


armed  ship.  The  commander  of  the  Pigot  showed  groat 
bravery,  actually  fighting  alone  on  deck,  in  his  shirt,  when 
every  man  of  his  crew  had  run  below. 

It  has  already  been  intimated,  that  the  appearance  of  a 
French  fleet,  in  July,  1778,  off  Newport,  materially  changed 
the  character  of  the  war,  so  far  as  the  American  marine 
was  concerned.  On  this  occasion,  the  enemy  destroyed 
the  following  ships  at,  or  near  Newport,  to  prevent  their 
falling  into  the  hands  of  the  French,  viz :  the  Juno,  32 ;  Or- 
pheus, 32;  Cerberus,  32;  Lark,  32;  Flora,  32;  and  Fal- 
con, 18. 

It  will  give  some  idea  of  the  condition  of  the  American 
marine  at  that  time,  if  we  state  that  a  month  previously  to 
the  arrival  of  the  French,  the  following  vessels  were  lying 
at  Boston.  They  appear  to  have  composed  most  of  the 
disposable  naval  force  of  the  United  States,  in  the  American 
seas,  viz:  Warren,  32,  Capt.  John  Hopkins;  Raleigh,  32, 
Capt.  Thompson;  Deane,  (afterwards  Hague,)  32,  Capt.  S. 
Nicholson;  Tyrannicide,  14,  colony  cruiser,  Capt.  Harding; 
Independence,  14,  Capt.  Hazard;  Sampson,  20;  Hancock, 
20,  (formerly  Weymouth,  a  packet:)  and  Speedwell,  10. 
The  four  last  were  colony  cruisers,  or  privateers.  Of  this 
force,  Capt.  Thompson  was  the  senior  officer.  Several 
private  armed  ships  were  cruising  off  the  eastern  coast,  at 
the  same  time,  among  which  was  the  Mars,  24,  Capt. 
Truxtun.     ■     ;,>  :'■■  .. ..:  ^-,!-'''  ■  '^.>.-./  --_.,:   > 

It  has  been  said  that  many  officers  of  the  navy,  previ- 
ously to  the  period  of  the  war  at  which  we  have  now 
arrived,  had  been  compelled  to  seek  service  in  thie  priva- 
teers, for  want  of  more  regular  employment,  and  among 
others  was  Capt.  Daniel  Waters.  While  in  command  of 
the  private  armed  ship  Thorn,  16,  out  of  Boston,  Capt.  Wa- 
ters engaged  the  letter  of  marque.  Governor  Tryon,  16, 
Capt.  Stebbins,  and  the  Sir  William  Erskine,  18,  Capt. 
Hamilton,  both  full  manned.  After  a  sharp  action  of  two 
hours,  the  Tryon  struck,  and  the  Erskine  made  sail  to  es- 


;>'*■■ 


^#- 


16R 


NAVAL  HISTOnr. 


I  r 


cape.  Instead  of  stopping  to  take  possession  of  his  prize, 
Capt.  Waters  pursued  the  Erskine,  and  getting  along  side, 
compelled  her  to  surrender  also.  Throwing  a  crew  on 
hoard  this  ship,  the  two  vessels  now  went  in  quest  of  the 
Tryon,  which  had  profited  by  the  situation  of  the  Thorn,  to 
endeavour  to  escape.  Favoured  by  the  night,  this  vessel 
succeeded  in  getting  oH)  and  the  next  day  the  Erskine  was 
sent  into  port.  The  Thorn  had  now  but  60  men  left,  and 
in  a  few  days,  she  fell  in  with  the  Sparlin,  18,  with  07  men, 
which  she  succeeded  in  taking  after  a  fight  of  near  an  hour. 
The  Thorn,  and  both  her  prizes,  arrived  safely  in  Boston. 

In  consequence  of  the  investigation  connected  with  the 
loss  of  the  Alfred,  or,  at  the  time  that  Capt.  Thompson 
was  relieved  from  the  command  of  the  Raleigh  32,  that 
ship  was  given  to  Capt.  Barry.  Under  the  orders  of  this 
new  commander,  the  Raleigh  sailed  from  Boston  on  the 
25th  of  September,  at  six  in  the  morning,  having  a  brig  and 
a  sloop  under  convoy.  Tho  wind  was  fresh  at  N.  W.,  and 
the  frigate  run  olf  N.  E.  At  twelve,  two  strange  sail  were 
seen  to  leeward,  distant  fifteen  or  sixteen  miles.  Orders 
were  given  to  the  convoy  to  haul  nearer  to  the  wind,  and 
to  crowd  all  the  sail  it  could  carry,  tho  strangers  in  chase. 
After  dark  the  Raleigh  lost  sight  of  the  enemy,  as  by  this 
time  the  two  ships  were  ascertained  to  be,  and  the  wind 
became  light  and  variable.  The  Raleigh  now  cleared  for 
action,  and  kept  her  people  at  quarters  all  night,  having 
tacked  towards  the  land.  In  the  morning  it  proved  to  be 
hazy,  and  the  strangers  were  not  to  be  seen.  The  Raleigh 
was  still  standing  towards  the  land,  which  she  shortly  after 
made  ahead,  quite  near.  •  About  noon,  the  haze  clearing 
away,  the  enemy  were  seen  in  the  southern  board,  and  to 
windward,  crowding  sail  in  chase.  The  weather  became 
thick  again,  and  the  Raleigh  lost  sight  of  her  two  pursuers, 
when  she  hauled  off  to  the  eastward.  That  night  no  more 
was  seei)  of  the  enemy,  and  at  day  light  Capt.  Barry  took 


I 


.''*  •■ 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


169 


ie 

is, 
re 


in  every  thing,  with  a  view  to  conceal  the  position  of  the 
ship,  which  was  permitted  to  drift  under  bare  poles.  Find- 
ing nothing  visible  at  0,  A.  M.,  the  Raleigh  crowded  sail 
once  more,  and  stood  S.  £.  by  S.  But  at  half  past  1),  the 
two  ships  were  again  discovered  astern,  and  in  chase. 
The  Raleigh  now  hauled  close  upon  a  wind,  heading  N.  W., 
with  her  larboard  tacks  aboard.  The  enemy  also  came  to 
the  wind,  all  three  vessels  carrying  '^ard  with  a  staggering 
breeze.  The  Raleigh  now  fairly  outsailed  the  strangers, 
running  11  knots  2  fathoms,  on  a  dragged  bowline. 

Unfortunately,  at  noon  the  wind  model  ated,  when  the 
leading  vessel  of  the  enemy  overhauled  the  Raleigh  quite 
fast,  and  even  the  ship  astern  held  way  with  her.  At  4,  P. 
M.,  the  Raleigh  tacked  to  the  westward,  with  a  view  to  dis- 
cover  the  force  of  the  leading  vessel  of  the  enemy,  and, 
about  the  same  time  she  made  several  low  islands,  the 
names  of  which  were  not  known.  At  5,  P.  M.,  the  leading- 
vessel  of  the  enemy  having  nearly  closed,  the  Raleigh  edged 
away  and  crossed  her  fore  foot,  brailing  her  mizzen,  and 
taking  in  her  staysails.  The  enemy  showed  a  battery  of  14 
guns  of  a  side,  including  both  decks,  and  set  St.  George's 
ensign.  In  passing,  the  Raleigh  delivered  her  broadside, 
which  was  returned,  when  the  stranger  came  up  under  the 
lee  quarter  of  the  former,  and  the  action  became  steady  and 
general.  At  the  second  fire,  the  Raleigh  unfortunately  lost 
her  fore-top-mast,  and  mizzen-top-gallant  mast,  which  gave 
the  enemy  a  vast  advantage  in  manoeuvring  throughout  the 
remainder  of  the  affair.  Finding  the  broadside  of  the  Ra- 
leigh getting  to  be  too  hot  for  him,  notwithstanding,  the 
enemy  soon  shot  ahead,  and,  for  a  short  time,  while  the  peo- 
ple of  the  former  ship  were  clearing  the  wreck,  he  engaged 
to  windward,  and  at  a  distance.  Ere  long,  however,  the  Eng- 
lish vessel  edged  away  and  attempted  to  rake  the  Raleigh, 
when  Capt.  Barry  bore  up,  and  bringing  the  ships  along 
side  each  other,  he  endeavoured  to  board,  a  step  that  the 

Vol.  I.— 15 


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ito 


NAVAL  IIISTORY. 


€ 


*# 


Other,  favoured  by  all  hia  canvass,  and  his  superiority  of  sail' 
ing  in  a  light  breeze,  easily  avoided.  By  this  time,  the  second 
ship  had  got  so  near  as  to  render  it  certain  she  would  very 
soon  close,  and,  escape  by  flight  being  out  of  the  question 
in  the  crippled  condition  of  the  frigate,  Capt.  Barry  called 
a  council  of  his  officers.  It  was  determined  to  make  an 
attempt  to  run  the  ship  ashore,  the  land  being  within  a  few 
miles  of  them.  The  Raleigh  accordingly  wore  round,  and 
stood  for  the  islands  already  mentioned,  her  antagonist 
sticking  to  her  in  the  most  gallant  manner,  both  ships  main- 
taining the  action  with  spirit.  About  midnight,  however, 
the  enemy  hauled  ofT,  and  left  the  Raleigh  to  pursue  her 
course  towards  the  land.  The  engagement  had  lasted 
seven  hours,  much  of  the  time  in  close  action,  and  both 
vessels  had  suffered  materially,  the  Raleigh,  in  particular, 
in  her  spars,  rigging  and  sails.  The  darkness,  soon  after, 
concealing  his  ship,  Capt.  Barry  had  some  hopes  of  getting 
ofT  among  the  islands,  and  was  in  the  act  of  bending  new 
sails,  for  that  purpose,  when  the  enemy's  vessels  again  came 
in  sight,  closing  fast.  The  Raleigh  immediately  opened  a 
brisk  fire  from  four  stern  guns,  and  every  human  effort  was 
made  to  force  the  ship  towards  the  land.  The  enemy,  how- 
ever, easily  closed  again,  and  opened  a  heavy  fire,  which 
was  returned  by  the  Raleigh  until  she  grounded,  when  the 
largest  of  the  enemy's  ships  immediately  hauled  off,  to  avoid 
a  similar  calamity,  and,  gaining  a  safe  distance,  both  vessels 
continued  their  fire,  from  positions  they  had  taken  on  the 
Raleigh's  quarter.  Capt.  Barry  finding  that  the  island  was 
rocky,  and  that  it  might  be  defended,  determined  to  land, 
and  to  burn  his  ship;  a  project  that  was  rendered  practica- 
ble by  the  fact  that  the  enemy  had  ceased  firing,  and  an- 
chored at  the  distance  of  about  a  mile.  A  large  party  of 
men  landed,  and  the  boats  were  about  to  return  for  the  re- 
mainder, when  it  was  discovered  that,  by  the  treachery  of 
a  petty  officer,  the  ship  had  surrendered. 


^^i^- 


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The  officers  and  men  on  the  island  escaped,  but  the  ship 
was  got  off,  and  placed  in  the  British  navy.  The  two  ships 
that  took  the  Raleigh  were  the  Experiment,  50,  Capt.  WaU 
lace,  and  the  Unicorn,  22.  The  latter  mounted  28  guns,  and 
was  the  ship  that  engaged  the  Ruleigh  so  closely,  so  long, 
and  so  obstinately.  She  was  much  cut  up,  losing  her  masts 
after  the  action,  and  had  10  men  killed,  besides  many  wound- 
ed. The  Americans  had  25  men  killed  and  wounded  in  the 
course  of  the  whole  affair. 

Capt.  Barry  gained  great  credit  for  his  gallantry  on  this 
occasion.  He  escaped  to  the  main,  with  a  considerable 
portion  of  his  crew,  though  not  without  great  suffering,  and 
a  new  ship  was  given  to  him  on  the  first  opportunity. 

Thus  terminated  the  year  1778,  so  far  as  it  was  connect- 
ed with  the  services  of  the  regular  marine,  though  like  all 
that  had  preceded,  or  which  followed  it,  in  this  war,  it  gave 
rise  to  many  handsome  exploits  among  the  colony  cruisers 
and  privateers,  some  of  which  we  may  have  occasion  to 
mention  in  a  separate  chapter,  that  will  be  devoted  to  that 
branch  of  the  subject. 


,.,       •     ^1.1  .'•'■.-  *      '  '.'..'•  '-.■■!>  --  V.,'  l  ,■ 


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IfA'.AL  HISTORY. 

;iv.i:.^..,?;> 

;'^'''>H.,.''    ■'■^■■'     -  ■*•■  ■■;  .  •  ,'•'  ■•  • 

■  ■  ::..'.-;^o^. 

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I     ' 

■  * 

\\ 


CHAPTER  IX. 


^ 


The  year  1779  opens  with  the  departure  of  the  Alliance, 
32,  for  France.  It  has  already  been  stated  that  the  com- 
mand of  this  ship  had  been  given  to  a  Capt.  Landais,  who 
was  said  to  be  a  French  officer  of  gallantry  and  merit. 
Unfortunately  thu  prejudices  of  the  seamen  did  not  an- 
swer to  the  complaisance  of  the  marine  committee  in  this 
respect,  and  it  was  found  difficult  to  obtain  a  crew  willing 
to  enlist  under  a  French  captain.  When  General  Lafayette, 
after  a  detention  of  several  months  on  the  road,  in  conse- 
quence of  severe  illness,  reached  Boston  near  the  close  of 
1778,  in  order  to  embark  in  the  Alliance,  it  was  found  that 
the  frigate  was  not  yet  manned.  Desirous  of  rendering 
themselves  useful  to  their  illustrious  guest,  the  government 
of  Massachusetts  offered  to  complete  the  ship's  comple- 
ment by  impressment,  an  expedient  that  had  been  adopted 
on  more  than  one  occasion  during  the  war ;  but  the  just- 
minded  and  benevolent  Lafayette  would  not  consent  to  the 
measure.  Anxious  to  sail,  however,  for  he  was  intrusted 
with  important  interests,  recourse  was  had  to  a  plan  to  man 
the  ship,  which,  if  less  objectionable  on  the  score  of  prin- 
ciple, was  scarcely  less  objectionable  in  every  other  point 
of  view. 

The  Somerset,  64,  had  been  wrecked  on  the  coast  of 
New-England,  and  part  of  her  crew  had  found  their  way 
to  Boston.    By  accepting  the  proffered  services  of  these 


ITAVAL  HISTORY. 


173 


men,  those  of  some  volunteers  from  among  the  prisoners, 
and  those  of  a  few  French  seamen  that  were  also  found  in 
Boston  after  the  departure  of  their  fleet,  a  motley  number 
was  raised  in  sufficient  time  to  enable  the  ship  to  sail  on  the 
11th  of  January.  With  this  incomplete  and  mixed  crew, 
Lafayette  trusted  himself  on  the  ocean,  and  the  result  was 
near  justifying  the  worst  forebodings  that  so  ill-advised  a 
measure  could  have  suggested. 

After  a  tempestuous  passage,  the  Alliance  got  within  two 
days'  run  of  the  English  coast,  when  her  officers  and  pas- 
sengers, of  whom  there  were  many  besides  Gen.  Lafayette 
and  his  suite,  received  the  startling  information  that  a  con- 
spiracy existed  among  the  English  portion  of  the  crew, 
some  seventy  or  eighty  men  in  all,  to  kill  the  officers, 
seize  the  vessel,  and  carry  the  latter  into  England.  With  a 
view  to  encourage  such  acts  of  mutiny,  the  British  Parlia- 
ment had  passed  a  law  to  reward  all  those  crews  that  should 
run  away  with  American  ships;  and  this  temptation  was  too 
strong  for  men  whose  service,  however  voluntary  it  might 
be  in  appearances,  was  probably  reluctant,  and  which  had 
been  compelled  by  circumstances,  if  not  by  direct  coercion. 
1  The  intentions  of  the  mutineers  appear  to  have  been  of 
the  most  ruthless  and  blood-thirsty  character.  By  the  ori- 
ginal plan,  the  cry  of  "  Sail-ho !"  was  to  be  raised  about 
day-light  on  the  morning  of  the  2d  of  February,  when,  as  it 
was  known  that  the  officers  and  passengers  would  imme- 
diately appear  on  the  quarter-deck,  the  attempt  was  to  com- 
mence by  seizing  them  in  a  body.  The  mutineers  were  di- 
vided into  four  parties,  of  which  one  was  to  get  possession 
of  the  magazine,  the  second  of  the  wardroom,  the  third  of 
the  cabin,  and  the  fourth  of  the  upper-deck  aft.  In  the  event 
of  resistance  by  the  officers  at  the  latter  point,  the  four  nine- 
pound  guns  on  the  forecastle  were  to  be  pointed  aft,  and  to 
sweep  the  quarter-deck.  •  With  this  view,  a  gunner's  mate, 
who  was  a  rinsleadcr, 


privately  put  i 
15* 


guns  charge 


-1p- 


.v.*!*:,,  dims::,,. 


174 


KAVAL  HISTORY. 


of  cannister-shot.  Some  fire-arms  had  also  been  secretly 
obtained  by  a  sergeant  of  marines,  Tvho  belonged  to  the 
mutiny.         .,.:-•  ..^v::- >:\: /^ -s  ^■<  v'^'-'- '-'■/■'■ -.v> 

On  the  night  of  the  1st  of  February,  the  execution  of  this 
plot  was  postponed  until  four  o'clock  of  the  afternoon  of  the 
ad,  instead  of  the  hour  of  day-light,  as  had  been  previously 
arranged.  It  had  been  determined  to  put  Capt.  Landais, 
who  was  exceedingly  oflfensive  to  the  conspirators,  into  a 
boat,  without  food,  water,  oars  or  sails,  heavily  ironed,  and 
to  turn  him  loose  on  the  ocean.  The  gunner,  carpenter,  and 
boatswain  were  to  have  been  killed  on  the  spot.  The  marine 
officer  and  surgeon  were  to  have  been  hanged,  quartered, 
and  their  bodies  cast  into  the  sea.  The  sailing-master  was 
to  have  been  seized  up  to  the  mizzen-mast,  scarified,  cut  into 
morsels  and  thrown  overboard.  To  each  of  the  lieutenants 
was  to  have  been  offered  the  option  of  navigating  the  ship 
into  the  nearest  British  port,  or  of  walking  a  plank.  The 
passengers  were  to  have  been  confined,  and  given  up  as 
prisoners,  in  England.  With  these  fell  intentions  in  their 
hearts,  the  conspirators  fortunately  decided  to  defer  the 
execution  of  their  plot  until  the  hour  last  named.         ? 

Among  the  r.rew  of  the  Alliance,  was  a  seaman  of  more 
than  usual  knowledge  of  his  calling,  and  of  great  decency 
of  exterior.  By  his  accent,  this  man,  though  regularly  en- 
tered as  a  volunteer  and  an  American,  was  supposed  to  be 
an  Irishman,  and  the  mutineers  were  desirous  of  obtain- 
ing his  assistance,  under  the  impression  that  he  might  di- 
rect them,  and  take  sufficient  charge  of  the  ship  to  prevent 
the  lieutenants  from  deceiving  them  as  to  their  position, 
should  the  latter  consent  to  navigate  her  into  England.  To 
this  person,  then,  in  the  course  of  the  morning  of  the  very  day 
set  for  the  execution  of  their  murderous  plan,  the  mutineers 
revealed  their  conspiracy,  and  invited  him  to  take  a  conspi- 
cuous part  in  it.  The  seaman  was  in  fact  an  American, 
who  bad  lived  a  long  time  in  Ireland,  where  he  had  acquired 


li 


■■^1 


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NAVAL  HISTORY. 


Its 


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I 


the  accent  of  the  nation,  but  where  he  had  lost  none  of  the 
feelings  of  country  and  kindred.  Affecting  to  listen  to  the 
proposition  with  favour,  he  got  most  of  their  secrets  out  of 
the  mutineers,  using  the  utmost  prudence  and  judgment  in 
all  his  proceedings.  It  was  near  three  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, before  this  new  ringleader  could  manage  to  get  into 
the  cabin  unseen,  where  he  made  Capt.  Landais  and  Gen. 
Lafayette  acquainted  with  all  he  knew.  Not  a  moment  was 
to  be  lost.  The  officers  and  other  passengers  were  apprised 
of  what  was  going  on,  such  men  as  could  certainly  be  relied 
on  were  put  on  their  guard,  and  a  few  minutes  before  the 
time  set  for  the  signal  to  be  given,  the  gentlemen  rushed  in 
a  body  on  deck,  with  drawn  swords,  where  the  American 
and  French  seamen  joined  them,  armed.  The  leading  mu- 
tineers were  instantly  seized.  Between  thirty  and  forty  of 
the  English  were  put  in  irons,  it  being  thought  impolitic  to 
arrest  any  more,  for  at  this  inopportune  moment  a  large 
vessel  hove  in  sight,  and  was  soon  made  out  to  be  an  ene- 
my's twenty  gun  ship. 

As  is  usual  in  such  cases,  some  of  the  ringleaders  betray- 
ed their  companions,  on  a  promise  of  pardon,  when  all  the 
previous  arrangements  were  revealed.  Believing  the  mo- 
ment unfavourable  to  engage  even  rn  inferior  force,  Capt. 
Landais,  after  a  little  manoeuvring,  |  ermittcd  the  ship  in 
sight  to  escape.  On  the  6th  of  Febriaiy,  the  Alliance  ar- 
rived safely  at  Brest. 

This  is  the  only  instance  tha'  I  as  ever  tru/.;pired,  of  a 
plan  to  make  a  serious  mutiny,  under  the  flag  of  the  United 
States  of  America.*  A  few  cases  of  momentary  revolts  have 
occurred,  which  principally  arose  from  a  defective  mode  of 
enlistments,  and  in  all  of  which  the  authority  of  the  officers 
has  prevailed,  after  short  and  insignificant  conte'sts.  It  may 


•  English  prisoners  who  had  enlisted  in  the  nav/,  were  frequently 
troublesome,  but  no  other  direct  mutiny  was  plotted. 


W 


.•4'v 


176 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


VI 


be  added,  as  a  just  source  of  national  pride,  that,  in  nearly 
every  emergency,  whether  on  board  ships  of  war,  or  on 
board  of  merchant  vessels,  the  native  American  has  been 
found  true  to  the  obligations  of  society;  and  it  is  a  singular 
proof  of  his  disposition  to  submit  to  legal  authority,  however 
oppressive  or  unjust  may  be  its  operation  in  his  particular 
case,  that  in  many  known  instances  in  which  English  sea- 
men have  revolted  against  their  own  officers,  and  in  their 
own  navy,  the  impressed  and  injured  American  has  prefer- 
red order,  and  submission  to  even  the  implied  obligations  of 
a  compelled  service,  to  rushing  into  the  dangers  of  revolt 
and  disobedience.  In  opposition  to  this  respectable  charac- 
teristic, may  be  put  in  high  relief,  the  well  ascertained  fact, 
that  when  left  in  captured  vessels,  or  placed  in  situations 
where  the  usages  of  mankind  tolerafe  resistance,  these  very 
men  have  required  as  vigilant  watching  as  any  others, 
it  being  probable  that  more  American  ships  have  been  re- 
taken from  their  prize  crews  by  American  seamen  left  on 
board  them,  within  the  last  sixty  years,  than  have  been  re- 
taken by  the  seamen  of  all  the  remaining  captured  vessels 
of  Christendom.  Quiet,  prudent,  observing,  hardy,  and  bold, 
the  American  seaman  is  usually  ready  to  listen  to  reason, 
and  to  defer  to  the  right;  traits  that  make  him  perhaps  the 
most  orderly  and  submissive  of  all  mariners,  when  properly 
and  legally  commanded,  and  the  most  dangerous  when  an 
occasion  arises  for  him  to  show  his  promptitude,  intelligence, 
and  spirit. 

On  reaching  Brest,  the  mutineers  were  placed  in  a  French 
gaol,  and,  after  some  delay,  were  exchanged  as  prisoners 
of  war,  without  any  other  punishment ;  the  noble  minded 
Lafayette,  in  particular,  feeling  averse  to  treating  foreigners 
as  it  would  have  been  a  duty  to  treat  natives  under  the  cir- 
cumstances. 

We  shall  next  revert  to  the  more  regular  warfare  of  the 
period  at  which  we  have  now  arrived.  ., 


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One  of  the  first  nautical  engagements  of  the  year  1779, 
occurred  to  the  Hampden,  22,  a  ship  that  sailed  out  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, though  it  is  believed  on  private  account.    The 
Hampden  was  i^ruising  in  the  Atlantic,  lat.  4?°,  long.  28°, 
when  she  made  a  strange  sail  to  windward.  A  small  armed 
schooner  was  in  company  with  the  Hampden,  and  a  signal 
was  made  by  tha  latter,  for  the  former  to  join.   Night  com- 
ing on,  however,  the  two  vessels  separated,  when  the  Hamp- 
den stood  towards  the  stranger  alone.    At  day-light,  the 
American  and  the  Englishman  were  a  long  gun-shot  apart, 
when  the  former  crowded  sail,  and  at  seven  in  the  morning, 
drawing  up  under  the  lee  quarter  of  the  chase,  gave  him  a 
broadside.   Until  this  moment,  the  stranger  had  kept  all  his 
guns  housed,  but  he  now  showed  thirteen  of  a  side,  and  de- 
livered his  fire.   It  was  soon  perceived  on  board  the  Hamp- 
den that  they  were  engaged  with  a  heavy  ship,  and  one  of 
a  force  altogether  superior  to  their  own.    Still,  hoping  that 
she  might  be  badly  manned,  and  receiving  no  material  dam- 
age at  the  commencement  of  the  fight,  the  commander  of 
the  Hampden  determined  to  continue  the  action.    A  hot 
engagement  followed,  which  lasted  three  hours,  within  pistol 
shot,  when  the  Hampden  v.  as  compelled  to  haul  off,  being 
in  momentary  danger  of  losing  her  masts.    The  American 
lost  a  Capt.  Pickering  killed, — but  whether  he  was  a  marine 
officer,  or  her  commander,  does  not  appear, — and  had  twenty 
men  killed  and  wounded.    The  Indiaman  was  much  injured 
also,  though  her  loss  was  never  ascertained.    This  was 
one  of  the  most  closely  contested  actions  of  the  war,  both 
sides  appearing  to  have  fought  with  perseverance  and  gal- 
lantry. 

On  the  18th  of  April,  the  U.  S.  ships  Warren,  32,  Capt.  J. 
B.  Hopkins,  Queen  of  France,  28,  Capt.  Olney,  and  Ranger, 
18,  Captain  Simpson,  sailed  from  Boston,  on  a  cruise  in 
company ;  Capt.  Hopkins  being  the  senior  officer.    When  a 

;se  vessels  captured  a  British  priva- 


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NAVAL  HISTORY. 


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teer  of  14  guns,  from  the  people  of  which  they  ascertained 
that  a  small  fleet  of  armed  transports  and  store-ships  had 
just  sailed  from  New-York,  bound  to  Georgia,  with  supplies 
for  the  enemy's  forces  in  that  quarter.  The  three  cruisers 
crowded  sail  in  chase,  and  off  Cape  Henry,  late  in  the  day, 
they  had  the  good  fortune  to  come  up  with  nine  sail,  seven 
of  which  they  captured,  with  a  trifling  resistance.  Favoured 
by  the  darkness,  the  two  others  escaped.  The  vessels  taken 
proved  to  be,  his  Britannic  Majesty's  ship  Jason,  20,  with  a 
crew  of  150  men ;  the  Maria  armed  ship,  of  16  guns,  and  84 
men;  and  the  privateer  schooner  Hiberni:i,  8,  with  a  crew 
of  45  men.  The  Maria  had  a  full  cargo  of  flour.  In  addi- 
tion to  these  vessels,  the  brigs  Patriot,  Prince  Frederick, 
Bachelor  John,  and  schooner  Chance,  all  laden  with  stores, 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans.  Among  the  prisoners 
were  twenty-four  British  officers,  who  were  on  their  way 
to  join  their  regiments  at  the  south.* 

The  command  of  the  Queen  of  France  was  now  given  to 
Capt.  Rathburne,  when  that  ship  sailed  on  another  cruise  in 
company  with  the  Ranger,  and  the  Providence,  28,  Capt. 
Whipple ;  the  latter  being  the  senior  officer.  In  July,  this 
squadron  fell  in  with  a  large  fleet  of  English  merchantmen, 
that  was  convoyed  by  a  ship  of  the  line,  and  some  smaller 
cruisers,  and  succeeded  in  cutting  out  several  valuable 
prizes,  of  which  eight  arrived  at  Boston,  their  estimated 
value  exceeding  a  million  of  dollars.  In  the  way  of  pecu- 
niary benefits,  this  was  the  most  successful  cruise  made  in 
the  war. 

Capt.  Manl\  vas  ^  .inpelled  to  seek  service  in  a?  privateer 
called  the  Cumberland,  owinrr  'o  the  want  of  ships  in  the 
navy.  In  thi  v  essel  he  was  captured  by  the  Pomona  fri- 
gate, and,  obtaining  his  exchange,  he  went  on  a  cruise  in 


W 


■•A 


■  ;/ 


•  A  Col.  Campbell  was  the  highest  in  rank,  and  if  this  v/ere  the  officer 
•iL,   '    of  the  same  name  and  rank  taken  off  Boston,  in  1776,  he  was  twice  made 
a  prisoner  on  board  transports,  during  thia  war, 


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■       I 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


179 


the  Jason  private  armed  ship,  in  which  vessel,  in  July  of 
the  present  year,  he  was  attacked  by  two  of  the  enemy's 
privateers,  one  of  18,  and  the  other  of  10  guns,  when,  run- 
ning boldly  between  them,  the  Jason  poured  in  her  fire, 
larboard  and  starboard,  with  so  much  effect,  that  both  sur- 
rendered. 

Quitting  the  American  seas,  we  will  once  more  return  to 
the  other  hemisphere. 

.  Paul  Jones  had  obtained  so  much  celebrity  for  his  cruise 
in  the  Ranger,  that  he  remained  in  France,  after  the  de- 
parture of  his  ship  for  America,  in  the  hope  of  receiv- 
ing a  more  important  command,  the  inducement,  indeed, 
which  had  originally  brought  him  to  Europe.  Many  dif- 
ferent projects  to  this  effect  had  been  entertained  and  aban- 
doned, during  the  years  1778  and  1779,  by  one  of  which  a 
descent  was  to  have  been  made  on  Liverpool,  with  a  body 
of  troops  commanded  by  Lafayette.  All  of  these  plans,  how- 
ever, produced  no  results,  and  after  many  vexatious  repulses 
in  his  applications  for  service,  an  arrangement  was  finally 
made  to  give  this  celebrated  officer  employment  that  was 
as  singular  in  its  outlines,  as  it  proved  to  be  inconvonicnt, 
not  to  say  impracticable,  in  execution.  ,   --,  ,^ 

By  a  letter  from  M.  de  Sartine,  the  minister  of  the  ma- 
rine, dated  February  4th,  1779,  it  appears  that  the  King  of 
France  had  consented  to  purchase  and  put  at  the  disposi- 
tion of  Capt.  Jones,  the  Duras,  an  old  Indiaman  of  some 
size,  then  lying  at  I'Oricnt.  To  this  vessel  were  added 
three  "nore  that  were  procured  by  means  of  M.  le  Ray  de 
Chaumontj  a  banker  of  eminence  connected  with  the 
court,  and  who  acted  on  the  occasion,  under  the  orders  of 
the  French  ministry.  Dr.  Franklin,  who,  as  minister  of  the 
United  States,  was  supposed,  in  a  legal  sense,  to  direct  the 
whole  affair,  added  the  Alliance,  32,  in  virtue  of  the  au- 
thority that  he  held  from  Congress.  The  vessels  that  were 
thus  chosen,  formed  a  little  squadron,  composed  of  the  Du- 


)f 


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160 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


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ras,  Alliance,  Pallas,  Cerf,  and  Vengeance.  The  Pallas 
was  a  merchantman  bought  for  the  occasion;  the  Ven- 
geance a  small  brig  that  had  also  been  purchased  expressly 
for  the  expedition;  the  Cerf  was  a  fine  large  cutter,  and, 
with  the  exception  of  the  Alliance,  the  only  vessel  of  the 
squadron  fitted  for  war.  All  the  ships  but  the  Alliance  were 
French  built,  and  they  were  placed  under  the  American  flag, 
by  the  following  arrangement. 

The  officers  received  appointments,  which  were  to  re- 
main valid  for  a  limited  period  only,  from  Dr.  Franklin, 
who  had  held  blank  commissions  to  be  filled  up  at  his  own 
discretion,  ever  since  his  arrival  in  Europe,  v  hile  the  ves- 
sels were  to  show  the  American  ensign,  and  tk  other.  In 
short,  the  French  ships  were  to  be  considered  as  Ameri- 
can ships,  during  this  particular  service,  and  when  it  was 
terminated,  they  were  to  revert  to  their  former  owners. 
The  laws  and  provisions  of  the  American  navy  were  to 
govern,  and  command  was  to  be  exercised,  and  to  descend, 
agreeably  to  its  usages.  Such  officers  as  already  had  rank 
in  the  American  service,  were  to  take  precedence  of  course, 
agreeably  to  the  dates  of  their  respective  commissions, 
while  the  new  appointments  were  to  be  regulated  by  the 
new  dates.  By  an  especial  provision,  however,  Capt.  Jones 
was  to  be  commander-in-chief,  a  post  he  would  have  been 
entitled  to  fill  by  his  original  commission,  Capt.  Landais  of 
the  Alliance,  the  only  other  regular  captain  in  the  squadron, 
being  his  junior.  The  joint  right  of  the  American  minister 
and  of  the  French  government,  to  instruct  the  commodore, 
and  to  direct  the  movements  of  the  squadron^was  also 
recognised.        ^  •      :  ■ 

.V  From  what  source  the  money  was  actually  obtained  by 
which  this  squadron  was  fitted  out,  is  not  exactly  known, 
nor  is  it  now  probable  that  it  will  ever  be  accurately  ascer- 
tained. Although  the  name  of  the  king  was  used,  it  is  not 
impossible  that  private  adventure  was  at  the  bottom  of  the 


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«  » . 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


181 


x\ 


Ml*. 


i..* 


enterprise,  though  it  seems  certain  that  the  government  >vas 
so  far  concerned  as  to  procure  the  vessels,  and  to  a  certain 
extent  to  use  its  stores.  Dr.  Franklin  expressly  states,  that 
he  made  no  advances  for  any  of  the  ships  employed. 

As  every  thing  connected  with  this  remarkable  enterprise 
has  interest,  we  shall  endeavour  to  give  the  reader  a  better 
idea  of  the  materials,  physical  and  moral,  that  composed  the 
force  of  Commodore  Jones,  in  his  memorable  cruise. 

After  many  more  vexatious  delays,  the  Duras,  her  name 
having  been  changed  to  that  of  the  Bon  Homme  Richard, 
in  compliment  to  Dr.  Franklin,  was  eventually  equipped 
and  manned.  Directions  had  been  given  to  cast  the  proper 
number  of  eighteen  pounders,  but,  it  being  ascertained  that 
there  would  not  be  time  to  complete  this  order,  some  old 
twelves  were  procured  in  their  place.  With  this  material 
change  in  the  armament,  the  Richard,  as  she  was  familiarly 
called  by  the  seamen,  got  ready  for  sea.  She  was,  properly, 
a  single  decked  ship,  or  carried  her  armament  on  one  gun 
deck,  with  the  usual  additions  on  the  quarter  deck  and 
forecastle;  but  Commodore  Jones,  with  a  view  to  attacking 
some  of  the  larger  convoys  of  the  enemy,  caused  twelve 
ports  to  be  cut  in  the  gun  room  below,  where  six  old 
eighteen  pounders  were  mounted,  it  being  the  intention 
to  fight  all  the  guns  on  one  side,  in  smooth  water.  The 
height  of  the  ship  admitted  of  this  arrangement,  though 
it  was  foreseen  that  these  guns  could  not  be  of  much  use, 
except  in  very  moderate  weather,  or  when  engaging  to 
leeward.  On  her  main,  or  proper  gun  deck,  the  ship  had 
twenty  eight  ports,  the  regular  construction  of  an  English 
38,  agreeably  to  the  oid  mode  of  rating.  Here  the  twelve- 
pounders  were  placed.  On  the  quarter  deck,  forecastle, 
and  in  the  gangways,  were  mounted  eight  nines,  making  in 
all  a  mixed  and  rather  light  armament  of  42  guns.  If  the 
six  eighteens  were  taken  away,  the  force  of  the  Bon  Homme 
Richard,  so  far  as  her  guns  were  concerned,  would  have 

Vol.  I.— 16  .    . 


i 


'V 


*^,, 


183 


If  AVAL  BISTORT. 


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been  about  equal  to  that  of  a  82  gun  frigate.  The  vessel 
was  clumsily  constructed,  having  been  built  many  years  be- 
fore, and  had  one  of  those  high  old  fashioned  poops,  that 
caMsed  the  sterns  of  the  ships  launched  in  the  eurly  part  of 
tho  eightu'onlh  ceujwry  to  resemble  towers. 

To  manage  a  vessel  of  this  singular  armament  and  doubt- 
ful construction,  Commodore  Jones  was  compelled  to  re-  f 
ceivc  on  board  a  crew  of  a  still  more  equivocal  composition. 
A  few  Americans  were  found  to  fill  the  stations  of  sea  offi- 
cers, on  the  quarter  dock  and  forward,  but  the  remainder  of 
the  people  were  a  mixture  of  English,  Irish,  Scotch,  Portu- 
guese, Norwegians,  Germans,  Spaniards,  Swedes,  Italians  . 
and  Malays,  with  occasionally  a  man  from  one  of  the  islands. 
To  keep  this  motley  crew  in  order,  one  hundred  and  thirty- 
five  soldiers  were  put  on  board,  under  the  command  of  some 
officers  of  inferior  rank.  These  soldiers,  or  marines,  were 
recruited  at  random,  and  were  not  much  less  singularly 
m'xed,  as  to  countries,  than  the  regular  crew. 

As  the  squadron  was  about  to  sail,  M.  Le  Ray  appeared 
at  I'Ori  nc,  and  presented  an  agreement,  or  concordat  as  it 
^van  termed,  for  the  signature  of  all  the  commanders.  To  . 
this  singular  compact,  which,  in  some  respects,  reduced  a 
naval  expedition  to  the  level  of  a  partnership.  Commodore 
Jones  ascribed  much  of  the  disobedience  among  his  cap- 
tains, of  which  he  subsequently  complained.  It  will  be  found 
in  the  appendix.* 

On  the  10th  of  June  1779,  the  ships  sailed  from  the  an- 
chorage under  the  Isle  of  Groix,  off  TOrient,  bound  to  the 
southward,  with  i  few  transports  and  coasters  under  their 
convoy.  The  transports  and  coasters  were  seen  into  their 
several  places  of  destination,  in  the  Garonne»  Loire,  and 
other  ports,  but  not  without  the  commencement  of  that  course 
of  disobedience  of  orders,  unseaman-like  conduct,  and  ne- 


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NAVAL  HISTORY. 


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gleet,  which  so  signally  marked  the  whole  career  of  this  ill 
assorted  force.  While  lying  to,  off  the  coast,  the  Alliance, 
by  palpable  mismanagement,  got  foul  of  the  Richard,  and 
lost  her  mizzen  mast;  carrying  away,  at  the  same  time,  the 
head,  cut-water,  and  jib-boom  of  the  |(itter.  It  now  be- 
came necessary  to  return  to  port  to  refit. 

While  steering  northerly  again,  the  Cerf  cutter  was  sent 
in  chase  of  a  strange  sail,  an'  parted  company.  The  next 
morning  she  engaged  a  si  .  English  cruiser  of  14  guns, 
and  after  a  sharp  conflict  'no,'^  than  an  hour,  obliged 
her  to  strike,  but  was  corr  lo  abandon  her  prize  in 

consequence  of  the  appearance  ot  a  vessel  of  superior  force. 
The  Cerf,  with  a  loss  of  several  men  killed  and  wounded, 
now  made  the  best  of  her  way  to  TOrient. 

On  the  22nd,  three  enemy's  vessels  of  war  came  in  sight 
of  the  squadron,  and,  having  the  wind,  they  ran  down  in  a 
line  abreast,  when,  most  probably  deceived  by  the  height 
and  general  appearance  of  the  Richard,  they  hauled  up,  and, 
by  carrying  a  press  of  sail,  escaped. 

On  th*^  30th,  the  Alliance  and  Pallas  parted  company  with 
the  Richard,  leaving  that  ship  with  no  other  consort  than  the 
Vengeance  brig.  On  reaching  the  Penmarks,  the  desig- 
nated rendezvous,  the  missing  vessels  did  not  appear.  On 
the  29th,  the  Vengeance  having  made  the  best  of  her  way 
for  the  roads  of  Groix  by  permission,  the  Richard  fell  in 
with  two  more  of  the  enemy's  cruisers,  which,  after  some 
indications  of  an  intention  to  come  down,  also  ran,  no  doubt 
under  the  impression  that  the  American  frigate  was  a  ship 
of  two  decks.  On  this  occasion  Commodore  Jones  ex- 
pressed himself  satisfied  with  the  spirit  of  his  crew,  the 
people  manifesting  a  strong  wish  to  engage.  On  the  last  of 
the  month,  the  Richard  returned  to  the  roads  from  which 
she  had  sailed,  and  anchored.  The  Alliance  and  Pallas 
came  in  also.  ;iv. 


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KAVAL  HISTORT. 


Another  delay  occurred.  A  court  was  convened  to  in- 
quire into  the  conduct  of  Capt.  Landais  of  the  Alliance,  and 
of  other  officers,  in  running  foul  of  the  Richard,  and  both 
ships  underwent  repairs.  Luckily  a  cartel  arrived  from 
England,  at  this  impment,  bringing  with  her  more  than  a 
hundred  exchanged  American  seamen,  most  of  whom  join- 
ed the  squadron.  This  proved  to  be  a  great  and  important 
accession  to  the  composition  of  the  crew  of  not  only  the 
Richard,  but. to  that  of  the  Alliance,  the  latter  ship  having 
been  but  little  better  off  than  the  former  in  this  particular. 
Among  those  who  came  from  the  English  prisons,  was  Mr. 
Richard  Dale,  who  had  been  taken  as  a  master's  mate,  in 
the  Lexington,  14.  This  young  officer  did  not  reach  France 
in  the  cartel,  however,  but  escaped  from  Mill  prison  earlier, 
and  joined  the  Richard.  Commodore  Jones  had  now  be- 
come sensible  of  his  merit,  and  in  reorganising  his  crew,  he 
had  him  promoted,  and  rated  him  as  his  first  lieutenant. 
The  Richard  had  now  nearly  a  hundred  Americans  in  her, 
and,  with  the  exception  of  the  commodore  himself  and  one 
midshipman,  all  her  quarter-deck  sea-oificers  were  of  the 
number.  Many  of  the  petty  officers  too,  were  of  this  class. 
In  a  letter  written  August  the  11th,  Commodore  Jones 
states  the  crew  of  the  Richard,  all  told,  at  380  souls,  inclu- 
ding 137  marines,  or  soldiers. 

On  the  14th  of  August,  1779,  the  squadron  sailed  a  second 
time  from  the  roads  of  Groix,  having  the  French  privateers 
Monsieur  and  Granville  in  company,  and  under  the  orders 
of  Commodore  Jones.  On  the  18th  a  valuable  prize  was 
taken,  and  some  difficulties  arising  with  the  commander  of 
the  Monsieur  in  consequence,  the  latter  parted  company  in 
the  night  of  the  19th.  This  was  a  serious  loss  in  the  way 
of  forcd,  that  ship  having  mounted  no  less  than  forty  guns. 
•A  prize  was  also  taken  on  the  2l8t.  On  the  23d,  the  ships 
were  off  Cape  Clear,  and,  while  towing  the  Richard's 
head  round  in  a  calm,  the  crew  of  a  boat  manned  by  £n- 


^IV 


■f'- 


^iw^ 


■*'; 


*^' 


V 


V*-:' 


■  .a 


,-% 


^' 


0- 


1^" 


HAVAL  HISTORY. 


185 


*  / 


.x^. 


■^ 


gtishmen,  cut  the  tow-line,  and  escaped.  Mr.  Cutting  Lunt, 
the  sailing  master  of  the  ship,  manned  another  boat,  and 
taking  with  him  four  soldiers,  he  pursued  the  fugitives.  A 
fog  coming  oq»  the  latter  boat  was  not  able  to  find  the  ships 
again,  and  her  people  fell  into  the  haiMs  of  the  enemy. 
Through  this  desertion  and  its  immediate  consequences,  the 
Richard  lost  twenty  of  her  best  men. 

The  day  after  the  escape  of  the  boat,  the  Cerf  was  sfsnt 
close  in  to  reconnoitre,  and  to  look  for  the  missing  people, 
and  owing  to  some  circumstance  that  has  never  been  ex- 
plained, but  which  does  not  appear  to  have  left  any  re- 
proach upon  her  commander,  this  vessel  never  rejoined  the 
squadron. 

A  gale  of  wind  followed,  during  which  the  Alliance  and 
Pallas  separated,  and  the  Granville  parted  company  with  a 
prize,  according  to  orders.  The  separation  of  the  Pallas  is 
explained  by  the  fact  that  she  had  broken  her  tiller;  but  that 
of  the  Alliance  can  only  be  imputed  to  the  unofficerlike,  as 
well  as  unseamanlike,  conduct  of  her  commander.  On  the 
morning  of  the  27th,  the  brig  Vengeance  was  the  only  ves- 
sel in  company  with  the  commodore. 

On  the  morning  of  the  31st  of  August,  the  Bon  Homme 
Richard,  being  off  Cape  Wrath,  captured  a  large  letter  of 
marque  bound  from  London  to  Quebec,  a  circumstance  that 
proves  the  expedients  to  which  the  English  ship-masters 
were  then  driven  to  avoid  capture,  this  vessel  having  ac- 
tually gone  north-about  to  escape  the  cruisers  on  the  beaten 
track.  While  in  chase  of  the  letter  of  marque,  the  Alliance 
hove  in  sight,  having  another  London  ship,  a  Jamaica-man, 
in  company  as  a  prize. 

Capt.  Lahdais,  of  the  Alliance,  an  officer,  who,  as  it  has 
since  been  ascertained,  had  been  obliged  to  quit  the  French 
navy  on  account  of  a  singularly  unfortunate  tamper,  now 
began  to  exhibit  a  disorganizing  and  mutinous  spirit,  pre- 
tending that  as  his  ship  was  the  only  real  American  vessel 


.cW.^^ 


16» 


■0. 


■  *=.  .A 


m 


-n 


199 


VAVAL  HISTORt. 


in  the  squadron,  he  was  superior  to  the  orders  of  the  com- 
modore, and  that  he  would  do  as  he  pleased  with  that 
frigate.  i 

In  the  afternoon  a  strange  sail  was  milde,  and  the  Richard 
showed  the  Alliance's  number,  with  an  order  to  chase.  In< 
stead  of  obeying  this  signal,  Capt.  Landais  wore  and  laid 
the  head  of  his  ship  in  a  direction  opposite  to  that  necessary 
to  execute  the  order!  Several  other  signals  were  disobeyed 
in  an  equally  contemptuous  manner,  and  the  control  of 
Com.  Jones  over  the  movements  of  this  vessel,  which,  on 
the  whole,  ought  to  have  been  the  most  efficient  in  the 
squadron,  may  be  said  to  have  ceased. 

Com.  Jones  now  shaped  his  course  for  the  second  rendez- 
vous he  had  appointed,  in  the  hope  of  meeting  the  missing 
ships.  On  the  2d  of  September,  the  Pfillas  rejoined,  having 
captured  nothing.  Between  this  date  and  the  13th  of  Sep- 
tember, the  squadron  continued  its  course  round  Scotland, 
the  ships  separating  and  rejoining  constantly,  and  Capt. 
Landais  assuming  powers  over  the  prizes,  as  well  as  over 
his  own  vessel,  that  were  altogether  opposed  to  discipline 
and  to  the  usages  of  every  regular  marine.  On  the  last  day 
named,  the  Cheviot  Hills  were  visible. 

Understanding  that  a  twenty  gun  ship  with  two  or  three 
man-of-war  cutters  were  lying  at  anchor  off  Leith,  in  the 
Frith  of  Forth,  Com.  Jones  now  planned  a  descent  on  that 
town.  At  this  time  the  Alliance  was  absent,  and  the  Pallas 
and  Vengeance  having  chased  to  the  southward,  the  ne- 
cessity of  communicating  with  those  vessels  produced  a 
fatal  delay  to  a  project  which  had  been  admirably  con- 
ceived, and  which  there  is  re  to  think  might  have  suc- 
ceeded. After  joining  his  twv.  ^jbordina^,  and  giving  his 
orders.  Com.  Jones  beat  into  the  Frith,  and  continued  work- 
ing up  towards  Leith,  until  the  17th,  when,  being  just  out  of 
gun  shot  of  the  town,  the  boats  were  got  out  and  manned. 
The  troops  to  be  landed  were  commanded  by  M.  de  Cha- 


'  ii 


Jh 


.  \i\ 


^1 


i!!*t 


/ 


-^, 


VAVAL  HISTORY. 


187 


'  ,> 


' 


milliard,  while  Mr.  Dale,  of  the  Richard,  was  put  at  the 
head  of  the  seamen.  The  latter  had  received  his  orders, 
and  was  just  about  to  go  into  his  boat,  when  a  squall  struck 
the  ships,  and  was  near  dismasting  the  commodore.  Finding 
himself  obliged  to  fill  his  sails,  Com.  Jones  endeavoured  to 
keep  the  ground  he  had  gained,  but  the  weight  of  the  wind 
finally  compelled  all  the  vessels  to  bear  up,  and  a  severe 
gale  succeeding,  they  were  driven  into  the  North  Sea,  where 
one  of  the  prizes  foundered. 

It  is  not  easy  to  say  what  would  have  been  the  result  of 
this  dashing  enterprize,  had  the  weather  permitted  the  at- 
tempt. The  audacity  of  the  measure  might  have  insured 
a  victory;  and  in  the  whole  design  we  discover  the  decision, 
high  moral  courage,  and  deep  enthusiasm  of  the  officer  who 
conceived  it.  It  was  the  opinion  of  Mr.  Dale,  a  man  of 
singular  modesty,  great  simplicity  of  character,  and  pru- 
dence, that  success  would  have  rewarded  the  effort. 

Abandoning  this  bold  project  with  reluctance.  Com.  Jones 
appears  to  have  meditated  another  still  more  daring ;  but  his 
colleagues,  as  he  bitterly  styled  his  captains  in  one  of  his 
letters,  refused  to  join  in  it  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that 
when  Com.  Jones  laid  this  second  scheme,  which  has  never 
been  explained,  before  the  young  sea-officers  of  his  own 
ship,  they  announced  their  readiness  as  one  man  to  second 
him,  heart  and  hand.  The  enterprize  was  dropped,  however, 
in  consequence  of  the  objections  of  Capt.  Cottineau,  of  the 
Pallas,  in  particular,  an  officer  for  vvhose  judgment  the 
commodore  appears  to  have  entertained  much  respect. 

The  Pallas  and  Vengeance  even  left  the  Richard,  proba- 
bly with  a  view  to  prevent  the  attempt  to  execute  this  name- 
less scheme,  aiHllhe  commodore  was  compelled  to  follow 
his  captains  to  the  southward,  or  to  lose  them  altogether. 
Off  Whitby  the  ships  last  named  joined  again,  and  on  the  21st, 
the  Richard  chased  a  collier  ashore  between  Flamborough 
Head  and  the  Spurn.    The  next  day  the  Richard  appeared 


# 


ifs 


c«y^^^ 


;■'■-•#■; 


Jk>^.. 


i^^kj 


■*' 


188 


WAVAL  HISTORY. 


^•Jr- 


in  the  mouth  of  the  Humber,  with  the  Vengeance  in  com- 
pany, apd  several  vessels  were  talien  or  destroyed.  Pilots 
were  enticed  on  board,  and  a  knowledge  of  the  state  of 
things  in-shore  was  obtained.  It  appeared  that  the  whole 
coast  was  alarmed,  and  that  many  persons  were  actually 
burying  their  plate.  Some  twelve  or  thirteen  vessels  in  all 
had  now  been  taken  by  the  squadron,  and  quite  as  many 
more  destroyed ;  and  coupling  these  facts  with  the  appear- 
ance of  the  ships  on  the  coast  and  in  the  Frith,  rumour  had 
swelled  the  whole  into  one  of  its  usual  terrific  tales.  Per- 
haps no  vessels  of  war  had  ever  before  excited  so  much 
local  alarm  on  the  coast  of  Great  Britain. 

Under  the  circumstances,  Com.  Jones  did  not  think  it 
prudent  to  remain  so  close  in  with  the  land,  and  he  stood 
out  towards  Flamborough  Head.  Here  two  large  sail  were 
made,  which  next  day  proved  to  be  the  Alliance  and  the 
Pallas.  This  was  on  the  23d  of  September,  and  brings  us 
down  to  the  most  memorable  event  in  this  extraordinary 
cruise. 

The  wind  was  light  at  the  southward,  the  water  smooth, 
and  many  vessels  were  in  sight  steering  in  different  direc- 
tions. About  noon,  his  original  squadron,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  Cerf  and  the  two  privateers,  being  all  in  com- 
pany. Com.  Jones  manned  one  of  the  pilot  boats  he  had  de- 
tained, and  sent  her  in  chase  of  a  brig  that  was  lying  to,  to 
windward.  On  boaid  this  little  vessel  were  put  Mr.  Lunt, 
the  second  lieutenant,  and  fifteen  men,  all  of  whom  were 
out  of  the  ship  for  the  rest  of  the  day.  In  consequence  of 
the  loss  of  the  two  boats  off  Cape  Clear,  the  absence  of  this 
party  in  the  pilot  boat,  and  the  number  of  men  that  had  been 
put  in  prizes,  the  Richard  was  now  left  'mm  only  one  sea- 
lieutenant,  and  with  but  little  more  than  three  hundred  souls 
on  board,  exclusively  of  the  prisoners.  Of  the  latter,  there 
were  between  one  and  two  hundred  in  the  ship. 

The  pilot  boat  had  hardly  left  the  Bod  Homme  Richard, 


\  > 


>«- 


I -I 


■<'   1 


* 


'M 


%i 


'  4'<:'(. 


^t. 


.#• 


# 


:%  • 


'.p. 


-k 


haval  histort. 


160 


W 


It 


■..'■'•,- 


:■  .<: 


if. 


when  the  leading  ships  of  a  fleet  of  more  than  forty  sail 
were  seen  stretching  out  from  behind  Flamborough  Head, 
on  a  bowline,  evidently  with  the  intention  of  turning  down 
towards  the  Straits  of  Dover.  From  previous  intelligence 
this  fleet  was  immediately  known  to  contain  the  Baltic  ships* 
under  the  convoy  of  the  Serapis  44,  Capt.  Richard  Pearson, 
and  a  hired  ship  that  had  been  put  into  the  King's  service, 
called  the  Countess  of  Scarborough.  The  latter  was  com- 
manded by  Capt.  Fiercy,  and  mounted  22  guns.  As  the 
interest  of  the  succeeding  details  will  chiefly  centre  in  the 
Serapis  and  the  Richard,  we  will  give  a  more  minute  ac- 
count of  the  a  .itual  force  of  the  former. 

At  the  period  of  which  we  are  now  writing,  forty-fours 
were  usually  built  on  two  decks.  Such,  then,  was  the  con- 
struction of  this  ship,  which  was  new,  and  had  the  reputa- 
tion of  being  a  fast  vessel.  On  her  lov/er  gun-deck  she 
mounted  20  eighteen-pound  guns ;  on  her  upper  gun-deck, 
20  nine-pound  guns;  and  on  her  quarter-deck  and  fore- 
castle, 10  six-pound  guns;  makmg  an  armament  of  50  gunr 
in  the  whole.  She  had  a  regularly  trained  man-of-war's 
crew  of  320  souls,  15  of  whom,  however,  were  said  to  have 
been  Lascars. 

When  the  squadron  made  tliis  convoy,  the  men  of  war 
were  in-shore  astern  and  to  leeward,  probably  with  a  view 
to  keep  the  merchantmen  together.  The  bailifls  of  Scarbo- 
rough, perceiving  the  danger  into  which  this  little  fleet  was 
running,  had  sent  a  boat  oflfto  the  Serapis  to  apprise  her  of 
the  presence  of  a  hostile  force,  and  Capt.  Pearson  flred  two 
guns,  signalling  the  leading  vessels  to  come  under  his  lee. 
These  orders  were  disregarded,  however,  the  headmost 
ships  standing  ||p^^until  they  were  about  a  league  from 
the  land.  * 

Com.  Jones  having  ascertained  the  character  of  the  fleet 
in  sight,  showed  a  signal  for  a  general  chase,  another  to 
recall  the  lieutenant  in  the  pilot  boat,  and  crossed  royal 


'■¥. 


■■  -1 


;1  1 


190 


«9 


KAYAL  HISTORY. 


yards  on  board  the  Richard.  These  signs  of  hostility  alarmed 
|he  nearest  English  ships,  >vhich  hurriedly  tacked  together, 
fired  alarm  guns,  let  fly  their  top-gallant  sheets,  and  made 
other  signals  of  the  danger  they  were  in,  while  they  now 
gladly  availed  themselves  of  the  presence  of  the  ships  of 
war,  to  run  to  leeward,  or  sought  shelter  closer  in  with  the 
land.  The  Serapis,  on  the  contrary,  signalled  the  Scarbo- 
rough to  follow,  and  hauled  boldly  out  to  sea,  until  she  had 
got  far  enough  to  windward,  when  she  tacked  and  stood  in-  ': 
shore  again,  to  cover  her  convoy. 

The  Alliance  being  much  the  fastest  vessel  of  the  Ameri- 
can squadron,  took  the  lead  in  the  chase,  speaking  the 
Pallas  as  she  passed.  It  has  been  proved  that  Capt.  Lan- 
dais  told  the  commander  of  the  latter  vessel  on  this  occasion, 
that  if  the  stranger  proved  to  be  a  fifty,  they  had  nothing  to  . 
do  but  to  endeavour  to  escape.  His  subsequent  conduct 
fully  donfirmed  this  opinion,  for  no  sooner  had  he  run  down 
near  enough  to  the  two  English  vessels  of  war,  to  ascertain 
their  force,  than  he  hauled  up,  and  stood  off  from  the  land  ' 
again.  All  this  was  not  only  contrary  to  the  regular  order 
of  battle,  but  contrary  to  the  positive  command  of  Commo- 
dore  Jones,  who  had  kept  the  signal  to  form  a  line  abroad, 
which  should  have  brought  the  Alliance  astern  of  the 
Richard,  and  the  Pallas  in  the  van.  Just  at  this  time,  the 
Pallas  spoke  the  Richard  and  inquired  what  station  she 
should  take,  and  was  also  directed  to  form  the  line.  But 
the  extraordinary  movements  of  Capt.  Landais  appear  to 
have  produced  some  indecision  in  the  commander  of  the 
Pallas,  as  he  too  soon  after  tacked  and  stood  off  from  the 
land.  Capt.  Cottineau,  however,  was  a  brave  man,  and 
subsequently  did  his  duty  in  the  action,  n0d  this  manoeuvre 
has  been  explained  by  the  Richard's  hauling  up  suddenly 
for  the  land,  which  induced  him  to  think  that  her  crew  had 
mutinied  and  were  running  away  with  the  ship.  Such  was 
the  want  of  confidence  that  prevailed  in  a  force  so  singu- 


\)\ 


A 


^■ 


1*  •"  ■' 


' 


t 


*5 


I* 


'%..      I 


..Jtil^M.- 


'f 


t 


SSf''^^7 


t-. 


M 


■■% 


•■^sr 


*^ 


r. 


\ 


r 


.11:',. 


* 


t 


iriVAL  HISTORY. 


101 


larly  composed,  and  such  >vere  the  disadvantages  under 
which  this  celebrated  combat  was  fought  I  % 

So  far,  however,  from  meditating  retreat  or  mutiny,  the 
people  of  the  Bon  Homme  Richard  had  gone  cheerfully  to 
their  quarters,  although  ev^ry  man  on  board  was  conscious 
of  the  superiority  of  the  force  with  which  they  were  about 
to  contend ;  and  the  high  unconquerable  spirit  of  the  com- 
mander appears  to  have  communicated  itself  to  the  crew. 

It  was  now  getting  to  be  dark,  and  Commodore  Jones  was 
compelled  to  follow  the  movement's  of  the  enemy  by  the  aid 
of  a  night  glass.  It  is  pr  jbable  that  the  obscurity  which 
prevailed  added  to  the  indecision  of  the  commander  of  the 
Pallas,  for  from  this  time  until  the  moon  rose,  objects  at  a 
distance  were  distinguished  with  difficulty,  and  even  after 
the  moon  appeared,  with  uncertainty.  The  Richard,  how- 
ever, stood  steadily  on,  and  about  half  past  seven,  she  came 
up  with  the  Serapis,  the  Scarborough  being  a  short  diitance 
to  leeward.  The  American  ship  was  to  windward,  and  as 
she  drew  slowly  near,  Capt.  Pearson  hailed.  The  answer 
was  equivocal,  and  both  ships  delivered  their  entire  broad- 
sides nearly  simultaneously.  The  water  being  so  smooth, 
Com.  Jones  had  relied  materially  on  the  eighteens  that 
were  in  the  gun-room ;  but  at  this  discharge  two  of  the 
six  that  were  fired  bursted,  blowing  up  the  deck  above,  and 
killing  or  wounding  a  large  proportion  of  the  people  that 
were  stationed  below.  This  disaster  caused  :  li  ^he  heavy 
guns  to  be  instantly  deserted,  for  the  men  had  no  longer 
sufficient  confidence  in  their  goodness  to  use  them.  It,  at 
once,  reduced  the  broadside  of  the  Richard  to  about  a  third 
less  than  that  of  her  opponent,  not  to  include  the  disadvan- 
tage of  the  mamMr  in  which  the  metal  that  remained  was 
distributed  amonp  light  guns.  In  short,  the  combat  was 
now  between  a-  twelve-pounder  and  an  eighteen-pounder 
frigate ;  a  species  of  contest  in  which,  it  has  been  said,  we 
know  not  with  what  truth,  the  former  has  never  been 


M'', 


■:Mi^. 


r^Sl 


'j}-ltiJi- 


?«t-  I., 


.)» 


'L  . 


193 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


t 


known  to  prevail.    Com.  Jones  informs  us  himself,  that  air  .'\ 

bis  hopes,  after  this  accident,  rested  on  the  twelve-pounders 

that  were  under  the  command  of  his  first  lieutenant.  •< 

The  Richard,  having  backed  her  topsails,  exchanged  se- 
vera  1  broadsides,  when  she  filled  again  and  shot  ahead  of 
the  Serapis,  which  ship  luffed  across  her  stern  and  came  up 
on  the  weather  quarter  of  her  antagonist,  taking  the  wind 
out  of  her  sails,  and,  in  her  turn,  passing  ahead.  All  this 
time,  which  consumed  half  an  hour,  the  cannonading  was  j^"  ' 
close  and  furious.  The  Scarborough  now  drew  near,  but 
it  is  uncertain  whether  she  fired  or  not.  On  the  side  of  the 
Americans  it  is  affirmed  that  she  raked  the  Richard  at  least 
once ;  but,  by  the  report  of  her  own  commander,  it  would  '  < 

appear  that,  on  account  of  the  obscurity  and  the  smoke,  he 
was  afraid  to  discharge  his  guns,  not  knowing  which  ship  ^: 

might  be  the  friend,  or  which  the  foe.    Unwilling  to  lie  by,     '^    \ 
and  ttf  be  exposed  to  shot  uselessly,  Capt.  Piercy  edged  away  « 

from  the  combatants,  exchanged  a  broadside  or  two,  at  a  %- 

great  distance,  with  the  Alliance,  and  shortly  afterwards 
was  engaged  at  close  quarters  by  the  Pallas,  which  ship 
compelled  him  to  strike,  after  u  creditable  resistance  of 
about  an  hour. 

Having  disposed  of  the  inferior  ships,  we  can  confine  our- 
selves to  the  principal  combatants.  As  the  Serapis  kept  her  , 
luff,  sailing  and  working  better  than  the  Richard,  it  was  the 
intention  of  Capt.  Pearson  to  pay  broad  off  across  the  latter's  , 
forefoot,  as  soon  as  he  had  got  far  enough  ahead;  but  mak- 
ing the  attempt,  and  finding  he  had  not  room,  he  put  his 
helm  hard  down  to  keep  clear  of  his  adversary,  when  the 
double  movement  brought  the  two  ships  nearly  in  a  line, 
the  Serapis  leading.  By  these  uncertain  evolutions,  the 
English  ship  lost  some  of  her  way,  while  the  American, 
having  kept  her  sails  trimmed,  not  only  closed,  but  actually 
ran  aboard  of  her  antagonist,  bows  on,  a  little  on  her  weather 
quarter    The  wind  being  light,  much  time  was  consumed 


^n- 


w 


•    r  • 


•V 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


193 


4 


3fkL. 


in  these  diflferent  manceuvrcs,  and  near  an  hour  had  elapsed 
between  the  firing  of  the  first  guns,  and  the  moment  when  the 
vessels  got  foul  of  each  other  in  the  manner  just  described. 

The  English  now  thought  that  it  was  the  intention  of  the 
Americans  to  board  them»  and  a  few  minutes  passed  in  the 
uncertainty  which  such  an  expectation  would  create ;  but 
the  positions  of  the  vessels  were  not  favourable  for  either 
party  to  pass  into  the  opposing  ship.  There  being  at  this 
moment  a  perfect  cessation  of  the  firing,  Capl.  Pearson  de- 
manded, "Have  you  struck  your  colours?"  "1  have  not 
yet  begun  to  fight,"  was  the  answer. 

The  yards  of  the  Richard  were  braced  aback,  and,  the 
sails  of  the  Serapis  being  full,  the  ships  separated.  As  soon 
as  far  enough  asunder,  the  Serapis  put  her  helm  hard  down, 
laid  all  aback  forward,  shivered  her  after-sails,  and  wore 
short  round  on  her  heel,  or  was  box-hauled,  with  a  view, 
most  probably,  of  luffing  up  athwart  the  bow  of  her  enemy, 
in  order  to  again  rake  her.  In  this  position  the  Richard 
would  have  been  fightfhg  her  starboard,  and  the  Serapis 
her  larboard  guns ;  but  Com.  Jones,  by  this  time,  was  con- 
scions  of  the  hopelessness  of  success  against  so  much  heavier 
metal,  and  after  having  backed  astern  some  distance,  he 
filled  on  the  other  tack,  luffing  up  >vith  the  intention  of 
meeting  the  enemy  as  she  came  to  the  wind,  and  of  lay- 
ing her  athwart  hause.  In  the  smoke,  one  party  or  the 
other  miscalculated  the  distance,  for  the  two  vessels  came 
i,  foul  Bgain,  the  bowsprit  of  the  English  ship  passing  over 
the  poop  of  the  American.  As  neither  had  much  way,  the 
collision  did  but  little  injury,  and  Com.  Jones,  with  his  own 
hands,  immediately  lashed  the  enemy's  head-gear  to  his 
mizzen-mast.  The  pressure  on  the  after  sails  of  the  Serapis, 
which  vessel  was  nearly  before  the  wind  at  the  time,  brought 
her  hull  round,  and  the  two  ships  gradually  fell  close  along- 
side of  each  other,  head  and  stern,  the  jib-boom  of  the  Se- 
rapis giving  way  with  the  strain.    A  spare  anchor  of  the 

VoL.1.— 1?  r.' 


.    "*;,. 


^i'-:# 


-?>': 


M 


% 


104 


If  AVAL  HISTORY. 


I  !■ 


English  iblp  now  hooked  in  the  quarter  of  the  American,  and 
additional  lashings  were  got  out  on  board  the  latter  to  se* 
cure  her  in  |his  position. 

Capt.  Pearson,  who  was  as  much  aware  of  his  advantage 
in  a  regular  combat  as  his  opponent  could  be  of  his  own 
disadvantage,  no  sooner  perceived  the  vessels  foul,  than  he 
dropped  an  anchor,  in  the  hope  that  the  Richard  would  drift 
clear  of  him.  But  such  an  expectation  was  perfectly  futile, 
as  the  yards  were  interlocked,  the  hulls  were  pressed  close 
against  each  other,  there  were  lashings  fore  and  aft,  and 
even  the  ornamental  work  aided  in  holding  the  ships  toge- 
then  When  the  cable  of  the  SSerapis  took  the  strain,  the 
vessels  slowly  tended,  with  the  bows  of  the  Serapii  and  the 
stern  of  the  Richard  to  the  tide.  At  this  instant  the  Eng- 
lish made  an  attempt  to  board,  but  were  repulsed  without 
loss. 

All  this  time  the  battle  raged.  The  lower  ports  of  the 
Serapis  having  been  closed,  as  the  vessel  swung,  to  prevent 
boarding,  they  were  now  blown  off,  in  order  to  allow  the 
guns  to  be  run  out;  and  cases  actually  occurred  in  which 
the  rammers  had  to  be  thrust  into  the  ports  of  the  opposite 
ship  in  order  to  be  entered  into  the  muzzles  of  their  proper 
guns.  It  is  evident  that  such  a  conflict  must  have  been  of 
short  duration.  In  effect,  the  heavy  metal  of  the  Serapis, 
in  one  or  two  discharges,  cleared  all  before  it,  and  the  main- 
deck  guns  of  the  Richard  were  in  a  great  measure  aban- 
doned.  Most  of  the  people  went  on  the  upper-deck,  and  a 
great  number  collected  on  the  forecastle,  where  they  were 
safe  from  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  continuing  to  fight  by  throw- 
ing grenades  and  using  muskets. 

In  this  stage  of  the  combat,  the  Serapis  w  )s  tearing  her 
antagonist  to  pieces  below,  almost  without  resistance  from 
her  enemy's  batteries,  only  two  guns  on  the  quarter-deck, 
and  three  or  four  of  the  twelves,  being  worked  at  all.  To  the 
former,  by  shifting  a  gun  from  the  larboard  side.  Com.  Jones 


.'* 


.^•■i 


♦.1^^- 


I/- 


I  / 


'«i  •. 


it,- 


$>: 


v» 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


106 


M. 


'¥ 


'-.,* 


■ucceeded  in  adding  a  third,  ail  of  which  wert  used  with 
eflect,  undet  his  immediate  inspection,  to  the  close  of  the 
action.  He  could  not  muster  force  enough  to  get  over  a 
second  gun.  But  the  combat' would  now  have  soon  termi- 
nated, had  it  not  been  for  the  courage  and  activity  of  the 
people  alofu  Strong  parties  had  been  placed  in  the  tops,  and, 
at  the  end  of  a  short  contest,  the  Americans  had  driven  every 
man  belonging  to  the  enemy  below ;  after  which  they  kept 
up  so  animated  a  fire,  on  the  quftrtor-deck  of  the  Sorapis  in 
particular,  as  to  drive  nearly  every  man  off  it,  that  was  not 
shot  down. 

Thus,  while  the  English  had  the  battle  nearly  all  to  them- 
selves  below,  their  enemies  had  the  control  above  the  uppers 
deck.  Having  cleared  the  tops  of  the  Serapis,  some  A  me- 
rican  seamen  lay  out  on  the  Richard's  main-yard,  and  be- 
gan to  throw  hand-gren:^des  upon  the  two  upper  decks 
of  the  English  ship ;  the  men  on  the  forecastle  of  their  own 
vessel  seconding  these  efforts,  by  casting  the  same  combus- 
tibles through  the  ports  of  the  Serapis.  At  length  one  man, 
in  particular,  became  so  hardy  as  to  take  his  post  on  the 
extreme  end  of  the  yard,  whence,  provided  with  a  bucket 
filled  with  combustibles,  and  a  match,  he  dropped  the  gre- 
nades with  so  much  precision  that  one  passed  through  the 
main-hatchway.  The  powder-boys  of  the  Serapis  had  got 
more  cartridges  up  than  were  wanted,  and,  in  their  hurry, 
they  had  carelessly  laid  a  row  of  them  on  the  main-deck,  in 
a  line  with  the  guns.  The  grenade  just  mentioned  set  fire 
to  some  loose  powder  that  was  lying  near,  and  the  flash 
passed  from  cartridge  to  cartridge,  beginning  abreast  of  the 
main-mast  and  running  quite  aft. 

The  effect  of  this  explosion  was  awful.  More  than  twenty 
men  were  instantly  killed,  many  of  them  being  left  with  no- 
thing on  them  but  the  collars  and  wristbands  of  their  shirts, 
and  the  waistbands  of  their  duck  trowsers ;  while  the  official 
returns  of  the  ship,  a  week  after  the  action,  show  that  there 


'^  • 


.^■■ 


i'M 


.A^- 


,  '{- 


19G 


li^-- 


ITAVAL  HISTORV. 


'*-.^ 


^- 


'were  no  Ipss  than  thirty-eight  wounded  on  board,  still  alive, 
who  had  been  injured  in  this  manner,  and  of  whom  thirty 
were  said  to  have  been  then  in  great  danger.  Capt.  Pearson 
described  this  explosion  as  having  destroyed  nearly  all  the 
men  at  the  five  or  six  aftermost  guns.  On  the  whole,  near 
sixty  of  the  Serapis'  people  must  have  been  instantly  dis- 
abled by  this  sudden  blow. 

The  advantage  thus  obtained,  by  the  coolness  and  intre- 
pidity of  the  topmen,  in  a  great  measure  restored  the  chances 
of  the  combat,  and,  by  lessening  the  fire  of  the  enemy,  ena- 
bled Com.  Jones  to  increase  his.  In  the  same  degree  that  it 
encouraged  the  crew  of  the  Richard,  it  diminished  the  hopes 
of  the  people  pf  tb3  Serapis.  One  of  the  guns  under  the 
immediate  inspection  of  Com.  Jones  had  been  pointed  some 
time  against  the  main-mast  of  his  enemy,  while  the  two 
others  hud  seconded  the  fire  of  the  tops,  with  grape  and 
cannister.  Kept  below  decks  by  this  double  attack,  where  a 
scene  of  frightful  horror  was  present  in  the  agonies  of  the 
wounded,  and  the  effects  of  the  explosion,  the  spirits  of  the 
English  began  to  droop,  and  there  was  a  moment  when  a 
trifle  would  have  induced  them  to  submit.  From  this  de- 
spondency they  were  temporarily  raised,  by  one  of  those 
unlookcd  for  events  that  ever  accompany  the  vicissitudes  of 
battle. 

After  exchanging  the  ineffective  and  distant  broadsides 
already  mentioned,  with  the  Scarborough,  the  Alliance  had 
kept  standing  off  and  on,  to  leeward  of  the  two  principal 
ships,  out  of  the  direction  of  their  shot,  when,  about  half 
past  eight,  she  appeared  crossing  the  stern  of  the  Serapis 
and  the  bow  of  the  Richard,  firing  at  such  a  distance  as  to 
render  it  impossible  to  say,  which  vessel  would  sufier  the 
most.  As  soon  as  she  had  drawn  out  of  the  range  of  her 
own  guns,  her  helm  was  put  up,  and  she  ran  down  near  a 
mile  to  leeward,  hovering  about,  until  the  firing  had  ceased 
between  the  Pallas  and  Scarborough,  w'hen  she  came  within 


t' 


\u^ 


1« 


.  I 


■  ■'ntr.' 


.,•'«*. 


Ai^■ 


i'fZ. 


VKVkL  HISTORY. 


107 


ilV 


hail  and  spoke  both  of  these  vessels.  Capt.  Cottiaeau  of  the 
Pallas  earnestly  entreated  Capt  Landais  to  take  possession 
of  his  prize,  and  allow  him  to  go  to  the  assistance  of  the 
Richard,  or  to  stretch  up  to  windward  in  the  Alliance  him- 
self, and  succour  the  commodore. 

After  some  delay,  Capt.  Landais  took  the  important 
duty  of  assisting  his  consort,  into  his  own  hands,  and 
making  two  long  stretches,  under  his  topsails,  he  api)eared, 
about  the  time  at  which  we  have  arrived  in  the  narration 
of  the  combat,  directly  to  windward  of  the  two  ships,  with 
the  head  of  the  Alliance  to  the  westward.  Here  the  latter 
ship  once  more  opened  her  fire,  doing  equal  damage  at 
least,  to  friend  and  foe.  Keeping  away  a'^Iittle,  and  still 
continuing  her  fire,  the  Alliance  was  soon  on  the  larboard 
quarter  of  the  Richard,  and,  it  is  even  affirmed,  that  her 
guns  were  discharged  until  she  had  got  nearly,  abeam. 

Fifty  voices  now  hailed  to  tell  the  people  of  the  Alliance 
that  they  were  firing  into  the  wrong  ship,  and  three  lan- 
terns were  shown,  in  a  line,  on  the  off  side  of  the  Richard, 
which  was  the  regular  signal  of  recognition  for  a  night  ac- 
tion. An  officer  was  directed  to  hail,  and  to  order  Capt. 
Landais  to  lay  the  enemy  aboard,  and  the  question  being 
put  whether  the  order  was  comprehended,  the  answer  was 
in  the  affirmative.  ^^  ■    '    ^ '  '  rv*    r    '  -V     :     .^, 

.1  As  the  moon  had  been  up  some  time,  it  was  impossi- 
ble not  to  distinguish  between  the  vessels,  the  Richard 
being  all  black,  while  the  Serapis  had  yellow  sides,  and  the 
impression  seems  to  have  been  general  in  the  former  vessel, 
that  they  had  been  attacked  intentionally.  At  the  discharge 
of  the  first  guns  of  the  Alliance,  the  people  left  one  or 
two  of  the  twelves  on  board  the  Richard,  which  they  had 
begun  to  fight  again,  saying  that  the  Englishmen  in  the 
Alliance  had  got  possession  of  the  ship,  and  were  helping 
the  enemy.  It  appears  that  this  discharge  dismounted  a 
;:  .  •.     •    -    :        -    "     17*  ;-::-^        •-    ^^- -:.;■,.:■  ■ 


^ 


«> 


•M^ 


-;^ 


vy. 


1 


f 


■m 


108 


NAVAL  HISTORT. 


gun  or  two,  extinguished  several  lanterns  on  the  main  deck, 
and  did  a  good  deal  of  damage  aloft. 

The  Alliance  hnuled  off  to  some  distance,  keeping  always 
on  the  offside  of  the  Richard,  and  soon  after  she  re-appear- 
ed edging  down  on  the  larboard  beam  of  her  consort, 
hauling  up  athwart  the  bows  of  that  ship  and  the  stern  of 
her  antagonist.  On  this  occasion,  it  is  affirmed  that  her 
fire  re-commenced,  when,  by  possibility,  the  shot  could  only 
reach  the  Serapis  through  the  Richard.  Ten  or  twelve 
men  appear  to  have  been  killed  and  wounded  on  the  forecas- 
tle of  the  latter  ship,  which  was  crowded  at  the  time,  and 
among  them  was  an  officer  of  the  name  of  Caswell,  who, 
with  his  dying  breath,  maintained  that  he  had  received  his 
wound  by  the  fire  of  the  friendly  vessel. 

After  crossing  the  bows  of  the  Richard,  and  the  stern  of 
the  Serapis,  delivering  grape  as  she  passed,  the  Alliance  ran 
off  to  leeward,  again  standing  off  and  on,  doing  nothing,  for 
the  remainder  of  the  combat. 

The  fire  of  the  Alliance  added  greatly  to  the  leaks  of  the 
Richard,  which  ship,  by  this  time,  had  received  so  much 
water  through  the  shot-holes,  as  to  begin  to  settle.  It  is 
even  affirmed  by  many  witnesses,  that  the  most  dangerous 
shot-holes  on  board  the  Richard,  were  under  her  larboard 
bow,  and  larboard  counter,  in  places  where  they  could  not 
have  been  received  from  the  fire  of  the  Serapis.  This  evi- 
dence, however,  is  not  unanswerable,  as  it  has  been  seen 
that  the  Serapis  luffed  up  on  the  larboard-quarter  of  the 
Richard  in  the  commencement  of  the  action,  and,  forging 
ahead,  was  subsequently  on  her  lurboard-bow,  endeavouring 
to  cross  her  fore  foot.  It  is  certainly  possible  that  shot  may 
have  struck  the  Richard  in  the  places  mentioned,  on  these 
occasions,  and  that,  as  the  ship  settled  in  the  water  from  other 
leaks,  the  holes  then  made  may  have  suddenly  increased  the 
danger.  On  the  other  hand,  if  the  Alliance  did  actually  fire 
while  on  the  bow  and  quarter  of  the  Richard,  as  appears  by 


Ijg; 


! 


.   Vv 


^1. 


■4 '- 


\< 


■'■   .' 


>'  ■'. 

'.  'v 

I'  ..' 
■'I  ■  - " 


,i 


' 


i 


\ 


i  I 


'-'^ *.  ,'■ 


.»» 


p,  . 


':  1 


\ 


; 


'J. '- 


-.-.♦ 


. '   \ 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


4- 


100 


a  mass  of  uncontradicted  testimony,  the  dangerous  shot- 
holes  may  very  well  have  come  from  that  ship. 

Let  the  injuries  have  been  received  from  what  quarter 
they  might,  soon  after  the  Alliance  had  run  to  leeward,  an 
alarm  was  spread  in  the  Richard,  that  the  ship  was  sinking. 
Both  vessels  had  been  on  fire  several  times,  and  some  diffi- 
culty had  been  experienced  in  extinguishing  the  flames,  but 
here  was  a  new  enemy  to  contend  with,  and  as  the  infor- 
mation came  from  the  carpenter,  whose  duty  it  was  to 
sound  the  pump-wells,  it  produced  a  good  deal  of  conster- 
nation. The  Richard  had  more  than  a  hundred  English 
prisoners  on  board,  and  the  master  at  arms,  in  the  hurry  of 
the  moment,  let  them  all  up  from  below,  in  order  to  save 
their  lives.  In  the  confusion  of  such  a  scene  at  night,  the 
master  of  a  letter  of  marque,  that  had  been  taken  off*  the 
north  of  Scotland,  passed  through  a  port  of  the  Richard  into 
one  of  the  Serapis,  when  he  reported  to  Capt.  Pearson,  that 
a  few  minutes  would  probably  decide  the  battle  in  his  favour, 
or  carry  his  enemy  down,  he  himself  having  been  Uberated 
in  order  to  save  his  life.  Just  at  this  instant  the  gunner, 
who  had  little  to  occupy  him  at  his  quarters,  came  on 
deck,  and  not  perceiving  Com.  Jones,  or  Mr.  Dale,  both  of 
whom  were  occupied  with  the  liberated  prisoners,  and  be- 
lieving the  master,  the  only  other  superior  he  had  in  the 
ship,  to  be  dead,  he  ran  up  on  the  poop  to  haul  down  the 
colours^  Fortunately  the  flag-staff  had  been  shot  away, 
and,  the  ensign  already  hanging  in  the  water,  he  had  no 
other  means  of  letting  his  intention  to  submit  be  known, 
than  by  calling  out  for  quarter.  Capt.  Pearson  now  hailed 
to  inquire  if  the  Richard  demanded  quarter,  and  was 
answered  by  Com.  Jones  himself,  in  the  negative.  It  is 
probable  that  the  reply  was  not  heard,  or,  if  heard,  supposed 
to  come  from  an  unauthorized  source,  for  encouraged  by 
what  he  had  learned  from  the  escaped  prisoner,  by  the 
cry,  and  by  the  confusion  that  prevailed  in  the  Richard, 


, .,./. ,-, 


J?.,v 


J^ 


'tiRvh  r 


^:-m 


>) 


^■ 


200 


% 


KAVAL  HISTORY. 


the  English  captain  directed  his  boarders  to  be  called  away, 
and,  as  soon  Ai  mustered,  they  were  ordered  to  take  posses- 
sion of  the  prize.  Some  of  the  men  actually  got  od  the 
gunwale  of  the  latter  ship,  but  finding  boarders  redcfy  to 
repel  boarders,  they  made  a  precipitate  retreat.  All  this 
time,  the  top-men  were  not  idle,  and  the  enemy  were  soon 
driven  below  again  with  loss.  •. ». ,      .i  \    ■.  r  ji    ~, 

In  the  mean  while,  Mr.  Dale,  who  no  longer  had  a  gun 
that  could  be  fought,  mustered  the  prisoners  at  the  pumps, 
turning  their  consternation  to  account,  and  probably  keep- 
ing the  Richard  afloat  by  the  very  blulider  that  had  come 
so  near  losing  her.  The  ships  were  now  on  fire  again, 
and  both  parties,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  guns  on  each 
side,  ceased  fighting,  in  order  to  subdue  this  dangerous 
enemy.  In  the  course  of  the  combat,  the  Serapis  is  said  to 
have  been  set  on  fire  no  less  than  twelve  times,  while, 
towards  its  close,  as  will  be  seen  in  the  sequel,  the  Richard 
was  burning  all  the  while. 

As  soon  as  order  was  restored  in  the  Richard,  after  the 
call  for  quarter,  her  chances  of  success  began  to  increase, 
while  the  English,  driven  under  cover,  almost  to  a  man, 
appear  to  have  lost,  in  a  great  degree,  the  hope  of  victory. 
Their  fire  materially  slackened,  while  the  Richard  again 
brought  a  few  more  guns  to  bear;  the  main-mast  of  the 
Serapis  began  to  totter,  and  her  resistance,  in  general,  to 
lessen.  About  an  hour  after  the  explosion,  or  between  three 
hours  and  three  hours  and  a  half  after  the  first  gun  was 
fired,  and  between  two  hours  and  two  hours  and  a  half  after 
the  ships  were  lashed  together,  Capt.  Pearson  hauled  down 
the  colours  of  the  Serapis  with  his  own  hands,  the  men  re- 
fusing to  expose  themselves  to  the  fire  of  the  Richard's  tops. 

As  soon  as  it  was  known  that  the  colours  of  the  English 
had  been  lowered,  Mr.  Dale  got  upon  the  gunwale  of  the 
Richard,  and  laying  hold  of  the  main  brace  pendant,  he 
swung  himself  on  board  the  Serapis.    On  the  quarter  deck 


ii 


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of  the  latter  lie  found  Cap!  Pearson,  almost  alone,  that 
gallant  officer  having  maintained  his  post,  throughout  the 
whole  of  this  close  and  murderous  conflict.  Just  as  Mr. 
Date  addressed  the  English  captain,  the  first  lieutenant  of 
the  Serapis  came  up  from  below  to  inquire  if  the  Richard 
had  struck,  her  fire  having  entirely  ceased.  Mr.  Dale  now' 
gave  the  English  ofiicer  to  understand  that  he  was  mistaken 
in  the  position  of  things,  the  Serapis  having  struck  to  the 
Richard,  and  not  the  Richard  to  the  Serr<  pis.  Cajit.  Pear< 
son  confirming  this^  account,  his  subordinate  acquiesced, 
offering  to  go  below  and  silence  the  guns  that  were  still 
playing  upon  the  American  ship.  To  this  Mr.  Dale  would 
not  consent,  but  both  the  English  officers  were  imme- 
diately passed  on  board  the  Richard.  The  firing  was 
then  stopped  below.  Mr.  Dale  had  been  closely  follow- 
ed to  the  quarter-deck  of  the  Serapis,  by  Mr.  Mayrant, 
a  midshipman,  and  a  party  of  boarders,  and  as  the  former 
struck  the  quarter  deck  of  the  prize,  he  was  run  through  the 
thigh,  by  a  boarding  pike,  in  the  hands  of  a  man  in  the 
waist,  who  was  ignorant  of  the  surrender.  Thus  did  the  close 
of  this  remarkable  combat,  resemble  its  other  features  in  sin- 
gularity, blood  being  shed  and  shot  fired,  while  the  boarding 
officer  was  in  amicable  discourse  with  his  prisoners ! 

As  soon  as  Capt.  Pearson  was  on  board  the  Richard,  and 
Mr.  Dale  had  received  a  proper  number  of  hands  in  the 
prize.  Com.  Jones  ordered  the  lashings  to  be  cut,  and  the 
vessels  to  be  separated,  hailing  the  Serapis,  as  the  Richard 
drifted  from  along  side  of  her,  and  ordering  her  to  follow 
his  own  ship.  Mr.  Dale,  now  had  the  head  sails  of  the  Se- 
rapis braced  sharp  aback,  and  the  wheel  put  down,  but  the 
vessel  refused  both  her  helm  and  her  canvass.  Surprised 
and  excited  at  this  circumstance,  the  gallant  lieutenant 
sprang  from  the  binnacle  on  which  he  had  seated  himself, 
and  fell  at  his  length  on  the  deck.  He  had  been  severely 
wounded  in  the  leg,  by  a  splinter,  and  until  this  moment  had 


^% 


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^ 


202 


KAVAL'^ISTORY. 


t 


^fc 


been  ignorant  of  the  injury.  He  was  replaced  on  the  bin* 
nacle,  when  the  master  of  the  Serapis  came  up  dnd  ac- 
quainted him  with  the  fact  that  the  ship  was  anchored.' 

By  this  time,  Mr.  Lunt,  ^he  second  liedtenant,  who  had 
been  absent  in  the  pilot  boat,  had  got  along  side,  and  was 
'on  board  the  prize.  To  this  officer  Mr.  Dale  now  consigned 
the  charge  of  the  Serapis,  the  cable  was  cut,  and  the  ship  ' 
followed  the  Richard,  as  ordered. 

Although  this  protracted  and  bloody  combat  had  now 
ended,  neither  the  danger  nor  the  labours  of  the  victors 
were  over.  The  Richard  was  both  sinking  and  on  fire.  The 
flames  had  got  within  the  ceiling,  and  extended  so  far  that 
they  menaced  the  magazine,  while  all  the  pumps,  in  con- 
stant  use,  could  barely  keep  the  water  at  the  same  level. 
Had  it  depended  on  the  exhausted  people  of  the  two  com- 
batants, the  ship  must  have  soon  sunk,  but  the  other  vessels 
of  the  squadron  sent  hands  on  board  the  Richard,  to  assist 
at  the  pumps.  So  imminent  did  the  danger  from  the  fire 
become,  that  all  the  powder  was  got  on  deck,  to  prevent  an 
explosion.  In  this  manner  did  the  night  of  the  battle  pass, 
with  one  gang  always  at  the  pumps,  and  another  contend- 
ing with  the  flames,  until  about  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon 
of  the  24th,  when  the  latter  were  got  under.  After  the 
action,  eight  or  ten  Englishmen  in  the  Richard,  stole  a  boat 
from  the  Serapis,  and  ran  away  with  it,  landing  at  Scarbo- 
rough. Several  of  the  men  were  so  alarmed  with  the  con- 
dition of  their  ship,  as  to  jump  overboard  and  swim  to  the 
other  vessels. 

When  the  day  dawned,  an  examination  was  made  into 
the  condition  of  the  Richard.  Abaft,  on  a  line  with  the  guns 
of  the  Serapis  that  had  not  been  disabled  by  the  explosion, 
the  timbers  were  found  to  be  nearly  all  beaten  in,  or  beaten 
out,  for  in  this  respect  there  was  little  difference  between  the 
two  sides  of  the  ship;  and  it  was  said  that  her  poop  and  upper 
decks  would  have  fallen  into  the  gun-room,  but  for  a  few  fut- 


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NAVAL  HISTORY. 


20S 


tocks  that  had  been  missed.  Indeed,  so  largo  was  the  vacuum, 
that  most  of  the  shot  fired  from  this  part  of  the  Serapis,  at  the 
close  of  the  action,  must  have  gone  through  the  Richard 
without  touching  any  thing.  The  rudder  was  cut  from  the 
stern-post,  and  the  transoms  were  nearly  driven  out  of  her. 
All  the  after  part  of  the  ship,  in  particular,  that  was  belowv 
the  quarter-deck,  was  torn  to  pieces,  and  nothing  had  saved 
those  stationed  on  the  quarter-deck,  but  the  impossibility  of 
elevating  guns  that  almost  touched  their  object. 

The  result  of  this  examination  was  to  convince  every  one 
of  the  impossibility  of  carrying  the  Richard  into  port,  in  the 
event  of  its  coming  on  to  blow.  Com.  Jones  was  advised  to 
remove  his  wounded  while' the  weather  continued  moderate, 
and  he  reluctantly  gave  the  order  to  commence.  The  fol> 
lowing  night  and  the  morning  of  the  succeeding  day  were 
employed  in  executing  this  imperious  duty,  and  about  nine 
o'clock,  the  officer  of  the  Pallas,  who  v/as  in  charge  of  the 
ship,  with  a  party  at  the  pumps,  finding  that  the  water  had 
reached  the  lower-deck,  reluctantly  abandoned  her.  About 
ten,  the  Bon  Homme  Richard  wallowed  heavily,  gave  a 
roll,  and  settled  slowly  into  the  se^,  bows  foremost,  ,,  ,,^  v- 

The  Serapis  suffered  much  less  than  the  Richard,  the 
guns  of  the  latter  having  been  so  light,  and  so  soon  silenced; 
but  no  sooner  were  the  ships  separated,  than  her  main-mast 
fell,  bringing  down  with  it  the  mizzen-top-mast.  Though 
jury-masts  were  erected,  the  ship  drove  about,  nearly  help- 
less, in  the  North  Sea,  until  the  6th  of  October,  when  the 
remains  of  the  squadron,  with  the  two  prizes,  got  into  the 
Texel,  the  port  to  which  they  had  been  ordered  to  repair. 

In  the  combat  between  the  Richard  and  the  Serapis,  an 
unusual  number  of  lives  was  lost,  though  no  regular  authen- 
tic report  appears  to  have  been  given  by  either  side.  Capt 
Pearson  states  the  loss  of  the  Richard  at  about  300  in  killed 
and  wounded ;  a  total  that  would  have  included  very  nearly 
all  hands,  and  which  was  certainly  a  great  exaggeration. 


r' 


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->•-    ■'l&XM 


'■\: 


204 


If  AVAL  HISTORY. 


r. 


or,  at  least,  a  great  mistake.  According  to  a  muster-roll  of 
the  officers  and  people  of  the  Richard,  excluding  the  ma- 
rines, which  is  still  in  existence,  42  men  were  killed,  or  died 
of  their  wounds  shortly  after  the  battle,  and  41  were  wound- 
ed. This  would  make  a  total  of  83,  for  this  portion  of  the 
crew,  which,  on  the  roll,  amounted  to  227  souls.  But  many  ; 
of  the  persons  named  on  this  list  arc  known  not  to  have 
been  in  the  action  at  all;  such  as  neither  of  the  junior  lieu- 
tenants, and  some  thirty  men  that  were  with  them,  besides 
those  absent  in  prizes.  As  there  were  a  few  volunteers  on  -^ 
board,  however,  who  were  not  mustered,  if  we  set  down 
200  as  the  number  of  the  portion  of  the  regular  crew  that 
was  in  the  action,  we  shall  probably  not  bo  far  from  the 
truth.  By  estimating  the  soldiers  that  remained  o\.  board  at 
120,  and  observing  the  same  proportion  for  their  casualties, 
we  shall  get  49  as  the  result,  which  will  make  a  total  of  ^' 
132,  as  the  entire  loss  of  the  Richard.  It  is  known,  how-  '- 
ever,  that,  in  the  commencement  of  the  action,  the  soldiers, 
or  marines,  suffered  out  of  proportion  to  the  rest  of  the 
crew,  and  general  report  having  made  the  gross  loss  of  the 
Richard  160  men,  we  are  .disposed  to  believe  that  it  was  not 
far  from  the  fact. 

Capt.  Pearson  reported  a  part  of  his  loss  at  117  men, 
admitting,  at  the  same  time,  that  there  were  many  killed 
and  wounded  whose  names  he  could  not  discover.  It  is 
probable  that  the  loss  of  the  two  ships,  in  men,  was  about  - 
equal,  and  that  nearly  or  quite  half  of  all  those  who  were 
engaged,  were  either  killed  or  woundied.  Com.  Jones,  in  a 
private  letter,  written  some  time  after  the  occurrence,  gives 
an  opinion,  however,  that  the  loss  of  the  Richard  was  less 
than  that  of  the  Serapis.  That  two  vessels  of  so  much 
force  should  lie  lashed  together  more  than  two  hours,  mak- 
ing use  of.  artillery,  musketry,  and  all  the  other  means  of 
annoyance  known  to  the  warfare  of  the  day,  and  not  do 
even  greater  injury  to  the  crews,  strikes  us  with  astonish- 


r>  . 


^ 


\  ■    \ 


KAVAL  HISTOnr. 


906 


mont ;  but  tho  fact  must  be  ascribed  to  the  peculiarities  of 
the  combat,  which,  by  driving  most  of  the  English  under 
cover  so  early  in  the  battle,  and  by  driving  the  Americans 
above  the  line  of  fire  of  their  enemies,  in  a  measure  protect- 
ed each  party  from  the  missiles  of  tho  other.  As  it  was,  it 
proved  a  murderous  and  sanguinary  conflict,  though  iti 
duration  would  probably  have  been  much  shorter,  and  its 
character  still  more  bloody,  but  for  these  unusual  circum- 
stances.* 


ft 


*  The  writer  has  given  the  particulars  of  this  celebrated  sea-fight  in 
detail,  on  account  of  the  gvtuX  interest  that  has  always  been  attached  to 
the  subject,  no  less  than  from  a  desire  to  correct  many  of  the  popular 
errors  that  have  so  long  existed  in  connexion  with  its  incidents.  In  fram- 
ing his  own  account,  he  has  followed  what  to  him  have  appeared  to  be 
the  best  authorities.  Scarcely  any  two  of  jthe  eye-witnesses  agpree  in  all* 
their  facts,  but  by  dint  of  examination,  the  writer  has  been  enabled  to 
discover,  as  he  believes,  where  the  weigfht  of  credible  testimony  and  pro- 
bability lies,  and  has  used  it  accordingly.  Com.  Dale,  a  witness  every  way 
entitled  to  respect,  so  far  as  his  position  enabled  him  to  note  occurrences, 
was  kind  enough  while  living  to  describe  to  the  writer  the  manosuvres  of 
the  ships,  which  it  is  hoped  have  now  been  given  in  a  way  that  will  ren- 
der them  intelligible  to  seamen.  There  are  but  two  leading  circumstances 
of  this  sort  that,  to  the  writer,  appear  doubtful.  The  Alliance  thrice  p- 
proached,  each  time  firing  into  both  the  combatants;  but  the  accounts,  or 
rather  testimony, — for  there  are  many  certificates  given  by  the  oflicers 
not  only  of  the  Richard,  but  of  the  Alliance  herself,  Pallas,  &c., — is  so 
obscure  and  confused,  that  it  is  diflicult  to  get  at  the  truth  of  the  .nanner, 
order,  and  exact  time  in  which  these  attacks  were  made.  With  ;he  view 
to  give  no  opinion  as  to  the  precise  time  of  the  last  firing  of  the  Alliance, 
'the  writer  has  condensed  the  account  of  all  her  proceedings  into  one, 
though  he  inclines  to  think  that  the  second  attack  of  this  ship  may 
have  occurred  a  little  later  in  the  contest  than  would  appear  from  the 
manner  in  which  it  is  told  in  the  narrative.  The  word  may  is  used  from 
uncertainty,  most  of  the  testimony,  perhaps,  placing  the  occurrence  in 
the  order  of  time  given  in  the  text.  Capt.  Pearson  says,  or  is  made  to 
say,  in  his  official  report,  that  the  Alliance  "  kept  sailing  ronnd  us  the 
whole  action,  and  raking  us  fore  and  aft,"  &c.  This  statement  is  contra* 
dieted  by  the  formal  certificates  of  nearly  every  officer  in  the  Richard, 
by  persons  on  board  the  Alliance,  by  spectators  in  boats,  as  well  as  by 
officers  of  the  other  vessels  near.    The  first  lieutenant  and  master  of 

Vol.  I.— 18 


-  -t- 


-.^'V 

'.•'"r 


iiM 


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906 


W  AVAL  HMTOmT. 


the  Alliance  henelf  adnit  that  they  were  nercr  on  the  off  tide  of  tk« 
Serapia  at  all,  and  of  courae  their  ship  never  could  have  gone  round  her. 
They  also  say  that  they  engaged  the  Scarborough,  at  very  long  ihot,  fbr 
a  ihort  timet  a  fact  that  Capt.  Piercy  Af  the  Scarborough  corroborate*. 
They  add,  moreover,  that  their  ship  was  a  long  time  aloof  fVom  the  com- 
bat, and  that  the  only  fired  three  broadsides,  or  parta  of  broadsides,  at 
the  Richard  and  Serapis.  From  the  testimony,  there  is  little  doubt  that 
the  Alliance  did  materially  more  injury  to  the  Richard  than  to  the  Serapist 
though,  aa  Capt.  Pearson  could  not  have  known  this  fact  at  the  time,  it  is 
highly  probable  that  her  proxitnity  may  have  influenced  that  officer  in 
inducing  him  to  lower  his  flag. 

The  second  point  is  the  fact  whether  the  Scarborough  raked  the  Rich- 
ard before  she  was  herself  engaged  with  the  other  ships.  The  writer  ia 
of  opinion  that  she  did,  while  he  admits  that  the  matter  is  involved  in 
doubt. 


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CHAPTER  X. 


> 


H 


The  arrival  of.  Paul  Jones  in  Holland,  with  his  prizes, 
excited  a  great  deal  of  interest  in  the  diplomatic  world. 
The  English  demanded  that  the  prisoners  should  be  released, 
and  that  Jones  himself  should  be  given  up  as  a  pirate.  The 
Dutch  government,  though  well  disposed  to  favour  the  Ame- 
ricans, was  not  prepared  for  war,  and  it  was  induced  to 
temporize.  A  long  correspondence  followed,  which  termi- 
nated in  one  of  those  political  expedients  that  are  so  com- 
mon, and  in  which  the  pains  and  penalties  of  avowing  the 
truth  are  avoided  by  means  of  a  mystification.  The  Sera- 
pis,  which  had  been  re-masted  and  equipped,  was  transferred 
to  France,  as  was  the  Scarborough,  while  Com.  Jones  took 
command  of  the  Alliance,  Capt.  Landais  having  been  sus- 
pended, and  was  ordered  to  quit  Holland. 

It  would  seem  that  there  were  two  parties  in  Holland : 
that  of  the  prince,  and  that  of  the  people.  With  the  latter 
the  American  cause  was  popular;  but  the  former  employed 
an  admiral  at  the  Texel,  who,  after  a  vexatious  course, 
finally  succeeded  in  forcing  the  Alliance  to  put  to  sea,  in  th6 
face  of  a  fleet  of  enemies,  which  was  anxiously  awaiting 
her  appearance.  The  Alliance  went  to  sea  on  the  27th  of 
December,  1779,  and  reached  the  roads  of  Groix  again,  in 
safety,  on  the  10th  of  February,  1780.  She  passed  down  the 
Channel,  was  near  enough  to  the  squadron  in  the  Downs  to 
examine  its  force,  was  several  times  chased,  and  made  a 
short  cruise  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  after  having  touched  in 


t^ 


..#.. 


Jth  'iif  ik^^^    fmS  •  -&UA>     >-^-v-  ^     (J*. 


f 


It 


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n        "^^ 
S^'^ 


908 


ITAVAt  HMTURr. 


Spain.  Capt.  Conyngham,  who  had  been  captured  in  a 
privateer,  had  joined  the  Alliance,  and  went  round  to 
]*Orient  in  the  ship. 

Ahhough  it  will  bo  anticipating  the  events  of  another 
year,  we  shall  finish  the  history  of  this  vessel,  so  far  as  she 
was  connected  with  the  officer  who  first  commanded  her, 
Capt.  Landais.  This  gentleman  had  been  sent  for  to  Paris, 
to  account  for  his  conduct  to  the  American  minit^er,  and 
subsequently  his  claim  to  command  the  Alliance  was  refer- 
red to  Mr.  Arthur  Lee,  who  was  on  the  spot,  and  who  had 
long  been  in  Europe  as  a  conspicuous  agent  of  the  govern- 
ment. The  decision  of  this  commissioner  restored  Capt.  Lan- 
dais to  the  Alliance,  on  the  ground  that  his  command  having 
been  given  to  him  by  the  highest  authority  of  the  country,  a 
vote  of  congress,  he  could  not  legally  be  deprived  of  it  by 
any  subordinate  authority.  In  June,  Capt.  Landais  sailed  in 
the  ship  for  America,  where  she  was  given  to  an  officer 
better  fitted  to  show  her  excellent  qualities,  and  who,  in  the 
end,  succeeded  in  redeeming  her  character.  During  the 
passage  home,  Capt.  Landais  was  deposed  from  the  com> 
mand,  under  the  idea  that  he  was  insane,  and  soon  after  he 
was  discharged  from  the  navy.  It  is  thought  that  the  ab- 
sence of  Com.  Jones,  alone,  prevented  his  receiving  severer 
punishment. 

Com.  Jones,  anxious  to  get  back  to  America,  took  com- 
mand of  the  Ariel  20,  a  little  ship  that  the  king  of  France 
lent  to  his  allies,  to  aid  in  transporting  military  supplies; 
and,  in  this  vessel,  with  a  portion  of  the  officers  and  men 
who  had  belonged  to  the  Richard,  he  sailed  from  under 
Groix  on  the  7th  of  September.  The  Ariel  encountered 
a  severe  gale,  when  a  day  or  two  out,  in  which  she  came 
near  being  lost.  The  ship  was  so  pressed  upon  by  the  wind 
that  her  lower-yard-arms  frequently  dipped,  and  though  an 
anchor  was  let  go,  she  refused  to  tend  to  it.  In  order  to 
keep  her  from  foundering,  the  fore-mast  was  cut  away,  and 


.•**, 


a 


A. 


y- 


I 


^^'\ 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


SOO 


i 


the  hoel  of  the  main-mait  having  worked  out  of  the  step, 
that  spar  followed,  bringing  down  with  it  the  mizzen-mast. 
Returning  to  L'Orient  to  reht,  the  Ariel  sailed  a  second 
time  for  America,  on  thu  18th  of  December.  During  the 
passage,  she  foil  in  with  an  enemy  of  about  her  own  size,  in 
'^  the  night,  and  after  much  conversation,  a  short  combat  fol- 
lowed, when  the  English  ship  intimated  that  she  had  struck, 
but  taking  advantage  of  her  position,  she  made  sail  and 
escaped.  Some  unaccountable  mistake  was  made  by,  or 
an  extraordinary  hallucination  appears  to  have  come  over, 
Com.  Jones,  in  reference  to  this  affair,  for,  in  his  journal,  he 
speaks  of  his  enemy  as  having  been  an  English  twenty-gun 
ship  called  the  Triumph,  and  the  result  as  a  victory.  The 
Triumph,  if  such  was  truly  the  name  of  the  English  ship, 
was  probably  a  letter  of  marque,  unable  to  resist  a  vessel  of 
war  of  any  force,  and,  though  not  free  from  the  imputation 
of  treachery,  she  escaped  by  out-manoeuvring  t^e  Ariel.** 
On  the  18th  of  February,  1781,  after  an  absence  of  more  than 
three  years,  Paul  Jones  reached  Philadelphia  in  safety .f 


» ■' 


*  Private  communication  of  the  late  Com.  Dale,  to  the  writer. 

f  John  Paul  was  born  on  the  6th  of  July,  1747,  at  Arbig^land,  on  the 
Frith  of  Solway,  in  the  kingdom  of  Scotland.  His  father  was  the  gardener 
of  Mr.  Craik,  a  gentleman  of  that  vicinity.  At  the  age  of  twelve,  the  boy 
was  apprenticed  to  a  ship-master  in  the  Virginia  trade,  and  he  made  his 
appearance  in  America,  in  consequence,  when  in  his  thirteenth  year.  An 
elder  brother  had  married  and  settled  in  Virpnia,  and  from  this  time 
young  Paul  appears  to  have  had  views  of  the  same  sort.  The  failure  of  his 
master  induced  him  to  give  up  the  indentures  of  the  apprentice,  and  we 
soon  find  the  latter  on  board  a  slaver.  The  master  and  mate  of  the  vessel 
he  was  in  dying,  Paul  took  charge  of  her,  and  brought  her  into  port;  and 
from  that  time  he  appears  to  have  sailed  in  command.  About  the  year  1770, 
he  caused  a  man  named  Mung^  Maxwell  to  be  flogged  for  misconduct,  and 
the  culprit  made  a  complaint  of  ill-treatment,  menacing  a  prosecution. 
The  complaint  was  rejected  by  the  local  authorities  (West  Indies)  as  frivo- 
lous; but,  not  long  after,  Maxwell  went  to  sea  in  another  ship,  and  died 
rather  suddenly.  When  the  fact  became  known,  the  enemies  of  Paul 
circulated  a  report  that  the  death  of  this  man  was  owing  to  the  ill-treat- 

18* 


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.. .  ■« 

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210 


IVAVAL  BISTORT. 


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i  :- 


;■■ 


Before  we  return  to  the  American  seas,  and  to  the  more 
regular  incidents  of  the  year  1770,  we  will  add  that,  after 
an  inquiry  into  the  conduct  of  Capt.  Jones,  as  it  was  con- 
>^ected  with  all  his  proceedings  in  Europe,  Congress  gave   ;^' 

■     ■•  •         •  ■       .        •      ..    ■•■     ''^"S     ^ 


■■'f?.- 


ment  he  had  received  when  punished  by  his  former  commander.  AUhoug:h 
this  rumour  was  completely  disproved  in  the  end,  it  raised  a  prejudice 
af^nst  the  young  seaman,  and,  at  a  later  day,  when  he  became  conspicu-  ^ 
ous,  it  was  used  against  him,  for  political  effect,  by  those  who  ought  to 
have  been  superior  to  injustice  of  no  low  a  character.  T 

Mr.  Paul  was  soured  at  this  ill-treatment,  and,  in  a  manner,  abandoned     :_ 
his  native  country.    In  1773,  his  brother  ^ied,  and  he  went  to  Virginia  to  % 
settle,  with  the  intention  of  quitting  the  seas.    Here,  for  some  reason 
that  is  unknown,  he  added  the  name  of  Jones  to  his  two  others.    The, 
hostilities  of  1775,  however,  brought  him  forward  again,  and  he  was  the   ,. 
senior  lieutenant  ever  commissioned  regularly,  in  the  service  of  Congress. 
As  this  was  before  the  declaration  of  independence,  the  relative  rank  was 
not  established;  but  in  October,  1776,  his  name  appears  on  the  list  as  the 
eighteenth  captain. 

His  first  cruise  was  in  the  Alfred  24,  Capt.  Saltonstall,  the  ship  that  bore 
the  broad  pennant  of  Com.  Hopkins,  and  his  first  engagement  was  that 
with  the  Glasgow.  From  the  AlH-ed,  he  wis  transferred  to  the  sloop  Pro- 
vidence 12,  as  her  captain,  lie  then  commanded  the  Alfred  24.  In  1777 
he  was  appointed  to  the  Hanger  18,  a  crank,  clumsy  ship,  with  a  gun- 
deck,  but  no  armament  above,  and  a  dull  sailer.  In  1778,  aflcr  the  cruise 
in  the  Irish  Channel,  in  which  he  took  the  Drake,  he  gave  up  the  com- 
mand of  the  Ranger,  and  in  1779,  obtained  that  of  the  squadron,  under 
the  celebrated  concordat.  His  subsequent  movements,  until  the  peace, 
are  to  be  traced  in  the  text. 

In  1782,  Capt.  Jones  w.as  launched  in  the  America  74,  and  the  same 
day  delivered  her  up  to  the  Chevalier  de  Martigne,  the  late  commander 
of  the  Kagnifique,  the  ship  she  was  now  to  replace.  After  this  he  made 
a  cruise  in  the  French  fleet,  as  a  volunteer,  in  which  situation  he  was 
found  by  the  peace.  In  November,  1783,  he  sailed  for  France  with  a 
commission  to  negotiate  for  the  recovery  of  prize-money  in  different  parts 
of  Europe.  In  1787,  he  returned  to  America  on  business,  but  was 
back  again  in  Europe  in  the  course  of  tite  same  season.  He  now  went 
to  the  north  on  biLsiness  connected  with  his  prizes.  About  this  time  he 
received  some  proposals  to  enter  the  Russian  navy,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1788,  he  obtained  the  rank  of  rear-admiral  accordingly.  Shortly  after,  he 
was  placed  in  an  important  command  against  the  Turkii,  in  which  situation 


^yoi 


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NAVAL  HISTORY. 


211 


him  a  vote  of  thanks,  and,  by  a  formal  rosohuion,  bestowed 
Oil  him  the  command  of  the  America  74,  the  only  one  of  the 
six  ships  of  that  class  that  was  ever  laid  down  under  the  law 
of  1776.  In  order  to  dispose  of  this  branch  of  the  subject  a^ 


he  is  said  to  have  rendered  material  services.  But  personal  hostility 
.drove  him  from  Russia  in  1789.  He  returned  to  Paris,  retaining  his  rank, 
^  and  pensioned.  From  this  time  tie  remained  in  France  and  the  adjacent 
countries  of  Europe,  until  his  death,  which  occurred  at  Paris,  on  the  18th 
of  July,  1792.  A  commission  appointing  him  the  agent  of  the  American 
government  to  treat  with  Algiers,  arrived  after  he  was  dead. 

That  Paul  Jones  was  a  remarkable  man,  cannot  justly  be  questioned. 
'  He  had  a  respectable  English  education,  and,  after  his  ambition  had  been 
^"Awakened  by  success,  he  appears  to  have  paid  attention  to  the  intellec- 
tual parts  of  his  profession.  In  his  enterprises  are  to  be  discovered  much 
of  that  boldness  of  conception  that  marks  a  great  naval  captain,  though  his 
most  celebrated  battle  is  probably  the  one  in  which  he  evinced  no  other 
very  high  quality  than  that  of  an  invincible  resolution  to  conquer.  Most  of 
the  misfortunes  of  tlie  Bon  Homme  Richard,  however,  may  be  very  fairly 
attributed  to  the  insubordination  of  his  captains,  and  to  the  bad  equipment 
of  his  own  vessel.  The  expedient  of  running  tlie  Serapis  aboard  was  one 
like  himself,  and  it  was  the  only  chance  for  victory  that  was  left. 

Paul  Jones  was  a  man  rather  under  than  above  the  middle  size,  and  his 
countenance  has  been  described  as  possessing  much  of  that  sedateness  that 
marks  deep  enthusiasm.  There  is  no  doubt  that  his  eminence  arose  from 
the  force  of  his  convictions,  rather  than  from  his  power  of  combining, 
though  his  reasoning  faculties  were  respectable.  His  associations  in  Paris 
appear  to  have  awakened  a  taste  which,  whenever  it  comes  late  in  life,  is 
almost  certain  to  come  attended  with  exaggeration.  Personally  he  would 
seem  to  have  been  vain:  a  very  excusable  foible  in  one  of  his  education 
and  previous  habits,  that  was  suddenly  exposed  to  the  flattery  and  seduc- 
tions of  Parisian  society.  He  never  married,  though  he  was  not  averse  to 
the  sex,  as  appears  from  his  letters,  po>^tic  effusions,  and  gallantries.  An 
affectation  of  a  literary  taste,  that  expended  itself  principally  in  homage 
to  those  he  admired,  formed  indeed  on^  of  his  principal  weaknesses. 

In  battle,  Paul  Jones  was  brave;  in  enterprise,  haidy  and  original;  in 
victory,  mild  and  generous;  in  motives,  much  disposed  to  disinterested- 
ness, though  ambitious  of  renown  and  covetous  of  distinction;  in  his  pe- 
cuniary relations,  liberal;  in  his  aifections,  natural  and  sincere;  and  in  his 
temper,  except  in  those  cases  which  assailed  his  reputation,  just  and  for- 
giving.   He  wanted  the  quiet  aeif-respect  of  a  man  capable  of  meeting 


A' .  ■ 


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ITAVAL  HISTORY. 


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^^. 


^^Z 


oncc,  it  may  be  well  to  say  here,  that  the  America  never 
got  to  sea  under  the  national  colours,  Congress  presenting 
the  ship  to  their  ally,  Louis  XVI.,  to  replace  the  Magnifique 
74,  which  had  been  lost  in  the  port  of  Boston.  This  friendly 
offering  was  made  by  resolution,  September  the  3d,  1782, 
and,  as  it  was  now  near  the  end  of  the  war,  Paul  Jones  never 
got  to  sea  again  in  the  service.  In  consequence  of  the  AmC' 
rica's  having  been  presented  to  France,  while  still  on  tho^ 
stocksj  the  United  States  properly  possessed  no  two-decked, 
ship  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 

To  return  to  the  more  regular  order  of  events. 

During  the  summer  of  1779,  the  Deane  32,  Capt.  Samuel 
^^  Nicholson,  and  the  Boston  24,  Capt.  Tucker,  made  a  cruise 
in  company.  In  August  of  that  year,  these  two  ships  took 
many  prizes,  though  no  action  of  moment  occurred.  Among 
others  were  the  Sandwich,  (a  packet,)  16,  two  privateers, 
with  the  Glencairn  20,  and  the  Thorn  18.  The  two  last 
vessels  were  letters  of  marque. 

In  the  sprijg  of  this  year,  the  Providence  12,  Capt. 
Hacker,  took  a  vessel  of  equal  force,  called  the  Diligent, 
after  a  sharp  action.  The  particulars  of  this  engagement' 
are  lost,  though  they  are  known  to  have  been  highly  credit- 
able to  the  American  officer.  The  Diligent  appears  to  have 
been  taken  into  the  service. 

A  bloody  action  also  occurred,  about  the  same  time,  be- 
tween the  Massachusetts  state  cruiser  Hazard  14,  Capt. 

acts  of  injustice  with  composure  and  dignity;  and  his  complaints  of  ill- 
treatment  and  neglect,  for  wliich  there  was  sufficient  foundation,  pro- 
bably lost  him  favour  both  in  France  and  America.  Had  circumstances 
put  him  in  a  situation  of  high  command,  there  is  little  doubt  that  he  would 
have  left  a  name  unsurpassed  by  tliat  of  any  naval  captain,  or  have  perish- 
ed in  endeavouring  to  obtain  it. 

From  the  American  government,  Paul  Jones  received  many  proofs  of 
commendation.  Louis  XVI.  created  him  a  knight  of  the  order  of  Merit, 
and  Catharine  of  Russia  conferred  on  him  the  ribbon  of  St.  Anne.  He  also 
received  other  marks  of  distinction,  with  a  pension  from  Denmark. 


4.  • 


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NAVAL  HISTORY. 


213 


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John  Foster  Williams,  .and  the  Active  18,  a  vessel  that  is 
supposed  to  have  belonged  to  the  king.    The  combat  lasted 
half  an  hour,  and  was  determined  in  favour  of  the  Hazard. 
'iA|k  The  Active  is  said  to  have  had  33  killed  and  wounded,  and 
,  the  Hazard  8.    Shortly  after  this  handsome  affair,  Capt. 
»    IWilliams  was  appointed  to  the  ship  Protector,  20,  belonging 
to  the  same  state,  and  in  June  he  hud  a  severe  action  with 
^ne  of  those  heavy  letters  of  marque,  it  was  much  the  cus- 
tom to  send  to  sea,  at  the  period  of  which  we  are  writing, 
called  the  Duff;  a  ship  said  to  have  been  quite  equal  in  force 
to  the  Protector.    After  a  sharp  contest  of  more  than  an 
hour,  Jlhe  Duff  blew  up.  The  Protector  succeeded  in  saving 
55  *6f  her  crew,  having  had  6  of  her  own  people  killed  and 
wounded  in  the  battle.    Taking  and  manning  many  prizes, 
the  Protector  had  a  narrow  escape  from  capture,  by  falling 
in  with  the  enemy's  frigate  Thames  38,  from  which  ship, 
however,  she  escaped,  after  a  sharp  running  fight,  in  which 
the  Thames  was  much  crippled  aloft.    On  returning  to 
port,  Capt.  Williams,  who  bore  a  high  reputation  as  an  offi- 
cer and  a  seaman,  was  immediately  engaged  in  the  expedi- 
tion that  it  is  our  duty  to  record  next,  and  which  proved  to 
be  much  the  most  disastrous  affair  in  which  American  sea- 
men were  ever  engaged.  ■; 
4   .      The  enemy  having  established  a  post  on  the  Penobscott, 
^       and  placed  a  strong  garrison  in  it,  the  state  of  Massachu- 
setts determined  to  drive  them  from  its  territory,  without 
calling  upon  Congress  for  assistance.    As  the  country  was 
then  nearly  a  wilderness,  it  is  probable  a  feeling  of  pride 
induced  this  step,  it  being  worthy  of  remark,  that,  after 
General  Gage  was  expelled  from  Boston,  the  enemy  had,  in 
no  instance,  attempted  to  maintain  any  other  post  than  this, 
which  lay  on  a  remote  and  uninhabited  frontier,  within  the 
territories  of  New  England.     For  this  purpose,  Massachu- 
setts made  a  draft  of  1500  of  her  own  militia,  and  got  an 
order  for  the  U.  S.  ship,  Warren  32,  Capt.  Saltonstall,  the 


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VKVAL  HIirrORT. 


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Diligent  14,  Capt.  Brown,  and  the  Providence  12,  Capt. 
Hacker,  to  join  the  expedition,  these  being  the  only  regular 
cruisers  employed  on  the  occasion.  Three  vessels  belong- 
ing to  Massachusetts  were  also  put  under  the  orders  of 
Capt.  Saltonstall,  and  a  force  consisting  of  thirteen  priva- 
teers was  added.  In  addition  there  were  many  transports  , 
and  store-vessels.    Gen.  Lovel  commanded  the  brigade. 

This  armament  made  its  appearance  off  the  Penobscott  ^ 
on  the  25th  of  July.  While  the  militia  were  making  their 
descent,  the  Warren,  and  another  vessel  of  some  force,  en- 
gaged the  enemy's  works.  The  cannonading  was  severe, 
and  the  Warren  is  said  to  have  had  30  men  killed  and 
wounded,  in  the  action  with  the  batteries,  and  in  landing  the 
troops.  The  latter  duty,  however,  was  successfully  per- 
formed by  General  Lovel,  with  a  loss  of  about  a  hundred  '^ 
men,  including  all  arms.  Finding  it  impossible  to  carry 
the  place  with  his  present  force,  the  commanding  officer 
now  sent  for  reinforcements.  On  the  13th  of  August,  while 
■waiting  for  a  return  of  the  messenger,  information  was  re- 
ceived from  the  Tyrannicide,  the  look-out  vessel,  that 
Sir  George  Collier,  in  the  Rainbow  64,  accompanied  by 
four  other  vessels  of  war,  was  entering  the  bay.  The 
troops  immediately  re-embarked,  and  a  general,  hurried  and 
confused  flight  ensued.  The  British  squadron,  consisting  of 
five  vessels  of  war,  quickly  appeared,  and  a  pursuit  up  the 
river  was  commenced,  and  continued  for  a  long  distance. 
The  enemy  soon  got  near  enough  to  use  their  chase  guns, 
and  the  fire  was  returned  by  the  Americans.  It  was  un- 
doubtedly the  wish  of  Capt.  Saltonstall,  to  reach  the  shallow 
waters  before  he  was  overtaken,  but,  finding  this  impracti- 
cable, he  run  his  ship  ashore,  and  set  her  on  fire.  Others 
followed  this  example,  and  most  of  the  vessels  were  des- 
troyed, though  three  or  four  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy.  .  fi 

Cnpt.  Saltonstall  was  much,  and,  in  some  respects,  per- 


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219 


haps,  justly  censured,  for  this  disaster,  though  it  is  to  be 
feared  that  it  arose  more  from  that  habit  of  publicity,  which 
is  peculiar  to  all  countries  much  influenced  by  popular 
feeling,  than  from  any  other  cause.  Had  a  due  regard  Ij^en 
paid  to  sftcrecy,  time  might  have  been  gained  to  effect  the 
object,  in  that  remote  region,  before  ft  sufficient  ftirce  could 
lave  been  collected  to  go  against  the  assailants.  In  a  mili- 
try  sense,  the  principal  faults  appear  to  have  been  a  mis- 
calculation of.  means,  at  the  commencement,  and  a  neglect 
to  raise  such  batteries,  as  might  have  protected  the  shipping 
against  the  heavy  vessels  of  the  enemy.  It  could  not  surely 
have  been  thought  that  privateers,  armed  with  light  guns,  ■ 
could  resist  two-deckers,  and  the  fact,  that  the  English  had  '^ 
a  fleet  of  such  vessels  on  the  coast  was  generally  known.  - 
The  Warren,  the  largest  vessel  among  the  Americans,  was 
a  common  frigate  of  thirty-two  guns,  and  had  a  main-deck 
battery  of  twelve  pounders.  Whatever  might  have  been 
attempted  by  a  regular  force,  was  put  out  of  the  question 
by  the  insubordination  of  the  privateers-men,  each  vessel 
seeking  her  own  safety,  as  her  captain  saw  best. 

The  troops  and  seamen  that  landed,  found  themselves  in 
the  centre  of  a  wilderness,  and  taking  diflerent  directions, 
their  sufferings,  before  they  reached  the  settlements,  were  of 
the  severest  kind.  It  is  a  fact,  worthy  of  being  recorded, 
that,  on  this  occasion,  the  Warren  being  short  of  men  at 
the  commencement  of  the  expedition,  and  finding  it  difficult 
to  obtain  them  by  enlistment,  in  consequence  of  the  sudden 
demand  for  seamen,  Capt.  Saltonstall  made  up  the  deficiency 
by  impressment. 

The  disastrous  result  of  this  expedition  inflicted  a  severe 
blow  on  American  nautical  enterprises.  Many  privateers 
and  state  vessels,  that  had  been  successful  against  the 
enemy's  commerce,  were  either  captured  or  destroyed. 
Among  the  vessels  blown  up,  was  the  Providence  12,  one  of 
the  first  cruisers  ever  sent  to  sea  by  the  United  States,  and 


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216 


ITAVAL  HISTORY. 


which  had  become  noted  for  exploits  greatly  exceeding  her 
force.    As  far  as  can  now  be  ascertained,  we  find  reason 
to  believe,  that  this  little  cruiser  was  both  sloop-rigged  and    ■ 
brig-rigged,  in  the  course  of  her  service.    She  had  been  a  , 
privateer  out  of  Rhode  Island,  at  the  commencement  of  the 
war,  and-  was  bought  of  her  original  commander,  Capt. 
Whipple,*  who  was  himself  admitted  into  the  service,  as  the 
first  commander  of  the  Columbus  20,  and  who  subsequently^' 
was  numbered  as  the  twelfth  captain,  on  the  regulated  list   ' 
of  1776. 


'.-'Ti?''* 


*  This  officer  is  supposed  to  have  commanded  at  the  burningf  of  the 
Gasp^  in  1772. 


* 


''-•::<' 


-1^ 


.%' 


■,^ 


J^- 


*r 


r^H*l«M*=. 


\i 


^k 


% 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


m 


I  •    ■       ..v-.i"'i-     I  <i      .  ,;.r-:ii. 
.'if'  '■**;..  ■"Js^  ',.,:".     ,V'  c    •  ''.':'•    '■^V-'    V-    5i*.i;  ',7   v^:--, 

v.       CHAPTER  XI.         .  -r'm^l  ' 


-  '■"•;  »^^^^ 


•r;  *  -■ 


i :.»'  ."  , 


.*?■;: 


At  the  commenoement  of  the  year  1780,  the  French  fleet 
under  Comte  d'Estaing  retired  to  the  West  Indies,  leaving 
the  entire  American  coast,  for  a  time,  at  the  command  of 
the  British.  Sir  Henry  Clinton  profited  by  the  opportunity 
to  sail  with  a  strong  force  in  ships  and  troops,  against 
Charleston,  which  town  he  reduced  after  a  short  but  vigour- 
ous  siege.  Several  American  ships  of  war  were  in  the 
harbour  at  the  time,  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Whipple, 
and  finding  escape  impossible,  this  officer  carried  his  squad- 
ron into  the  Cooper,  sunk  several  vessels  at  its  mouth,  and 
landed  all  the  guns  and  crews,  for  the  defence  of  the  town, 
with  the  exception  of  those  of  one  ship.  The  Providence 
28,  Capt.  Whipple,  the  Queen  of  France  28,*  Capt.  Rath- 
burne,  the  Boston  24,  Capt.  Tucker,  Ranger  18,  Capt  Simp- 
son, and  several  smaller  vessels,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 

enemy.  •    >'^m     ';;v:^     -  ^  .^    •  •■      ..^-■fv-rv-'  ,   ^.^j    . 

.,  The  English  government,  by  this  time,  found  the  system 
of  privateering  so  destructive  to  their  navigation,  that  it 
had  come  to  the  determination  of  refusing  to  exchange  any 
more  of  the  seamen  that  fell  into  their  power.  By  acting 
on  this  policy,  they  collected  a  large  body  of  prisoners, 
sending  them  to  England  in  their  return  ships,  and  sensibly 
affected  the  nautical  enterprises  of  the  Americans,  who,  of 

-  -•  'i.  I     ' .'   '      *■-         -     ..  '     •  s     ■        '„.. '     '  i:      /,  '       .    .,    ■    '\i'  " 

•  This  ship  is  supposed  to  have  been  a  small  frigate  built  at  Nantes,  by 
the  American  commissioners  in  France.  i.-fi. 

Vol.  I 19 


!<:<. 


m- 


,4^- 


'     ^i&,. 


A- 


«it 


If  AVAL  HISTORT. 


^' 


course,  had  but  a  limited  number  of  officers  and  men  fit  to 
act  on  the  ocean.  v  ,,      ,  ,,/ 

By  the  fall  of  Charleston,  too,  the  force  of  the  regular 
American  marine,  small  as  it  had  always  been,  was  still 
more  reduced.  Of  the  frigates,  the  Alliance  32,  the  Hague 
(late  Deane)  32,  Confederacy  32,  Trumbull  28,  and  a  ship 
or  two  bought  or  borrowed  in  Europe,  appear  to  be  all  that 
were  left,  while  the  smaller  cruisers,  like  the  pitcher  that  is 
broken  by  going  too  often  to  the  well,  had  not  fared  much 
better. 

In  consequence  of  all  these  losses,  the  advanced  state  of 
the  war,  and  the  French  alliance,  which  had  brought  the 
fleets  of  France  upon  the  American  coast.  Congress  appears 
to  have  thought  any  great  efforts  fur  increasing  the  ma- 
rine unnecessary  at  the  moment.  The  privateers  and  state 
cruisers  were  out  and  active  as  usual,  though  much  reduced 
in  numbers,  and  consequently  in  general  efficiency.  In  con- 
trast to  these  diminished  effnrts  we  find  the  British  Parlia- 
ment authorizing  the  ministry  to  keep  no  less  than  85,000 
men  employed  in  the  English  navy,  including  the  marines. 

The  first  action  of  moment  that  occurred  this  year  be- 
tween any  United  Slates'  vessel  and  the  enemy,  notwith- 
standing, has  the  reputation  of  having  been  one  of  the  most 
holly  and  obstinately  contested  combats  of  the  war.  June 
2d,  1780,  the  Trumbull  28,  then  under  the  command  of 
Capt.  James  Nicholson,  the  senior  officer  of  the  navy,  while 
cruising  in  lat.  35°  54',  long.  66°  W.,  made  a  strange  sail  to 
windward  from  the  mast-heads.  The  Trumbull  immediately 
furled  all  her  canvass,  in  the  hope  of  drawing  the  stranger 
down  upon  her  before  she  should  be  seen.  At  eleven,  the 
stranger  was  made  out  to  be  a  large  ship,  steering  for  the  , 
Trumbuirs quarter;  but  soon  hauling  more  astern,  sail  was 
got  on  the  American  ship  to  close.  After  some  manoeuvring, 
in  order  to  try  the  rate  of  sailing  and  to  get  a  view  of  the 
stranger's  broadside,  the  Trumbull  took  in  her  light  sails, 


v* 


* 


/         JU 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


81» 


r:f 


hauled  up  her  courses,  the  chase  all  this  time  h  ^raying  no 
desire  to  avoid  an  action,  but  standing  directly  ,jr  her  ad- 
versary. When  near  enough,  the  Trumbull  filled,  and,  out- 
sailing the  stranger,  she  easily  fetched  to  windward  of  her. 
The  chase  now  fired  three  guns,  showed  English  colours, 
and  edged  away,  under  short  sail,  evidently  with  an  inten- 
tion to  pursue  her  course. 

Capt.  Nicholson  harangued  his  men,  and  then  made  sail 
to  bring  his  ship  up  with  the  enemy.  When  about  a  hun- 
dred yards  distant,  the  English  ship  fired  a  broadside,  and 
the  action  began  in  good  earnest.  For  two  hours  and  a 
half  the  vessels  lay  nearly  abeam  of  each  other,  giving  and 
receiving  broadsides  without  intermission.  At  no  time  were 
they  a  hundred  yards  asunder,  and  more  than  once  the 
yards  nearly  interlocked.  Twice  was  the  Trumbull  set  on 
fire  by  the  wads  of  her  enemy,  and  once  the  enemy  suffered 
in  the  same  way.  At  last  the  fire  of  the  Englishman  slack- 
ened sensibly,  until  it  nearly  ceased. 

Capt.  Nicholson  now  felt  satisfied  that  he  should  make  a 
prize  of  his  antagonist,  and  was  encouraging  his  people  with 
that  hope,  when  a  report  was  brought  to  him,  that  the  main- 
mast was  tottering,  and  that  if  it  went  while  near  the  enemy, 
his  ship  would  probably  be  the  sacrifice.  Anxious  to  secure 
the  spar,  sail  was  made,  and  the  Trumbull  shot  ahead  again, 
her  superiority  of  sailing  being  very  decided.  She  was  soon 
clear  of  her  adversary,  who  made  no  effort  to  molest  her. 
The  vessels,  however,  were  scarcely  musket-shot  apart, 
when  the  main  and  mizzen  top-masts  of  the  Trumbull  went 
over  the  side,  and,  in  spite  of  every  effort  to  secure  them, 
spar  after  spar  came  down,  until  nothing  was  left  but  the 
fore-mast.  Under  such  circumstances,  the  enemy,  who  had 
manifested  no  desire  to  profit  by  her  advantage,  went  off  on 
her  proper  course.  Before  she  was  out  of  sight,  her  main- 
top-mast was  also  seen  to  fiill. 

It  was  afterwards  ascertained  that  the  ship  engaged  by 


'^ 


.  «'■ 


;»./■ 


f--/ 


In 


.;«&.. 


420 


KAVAL  HISTORY. 


•fe 


the  Trumbull  was  a  letter  of  marque  called  the  Wntt,  Capt. 
Coulthard,  a  vessel  of  size,  that  had  been  expressly  fitted  to 
fight  her  way.  Her  force  is  not  mentioned  in  the  English 
accounts,  but  her  commander,  in  his  narrative  of  the  afl'air, 
in  which  he  claims  the  victory,  admits  his  loss  to  have  been 
92  men,  in  killed  and  wounded.  Capt.  Nicholson  estimates 
her  force  at  34  or  30  guns,  mostly  twelve-pounders ;  and 
he  states  that  of  the  Trumbull  to  have  been  24  twelve- 
pounders  and  6  sixes,  with  109  souls  on  board  when  the 
action  commenced.  The  Trumbull  lost  39,  in  killed  and 
wounded,  among  the  former  of  whom  were  two  of  her  lieu- 
tenants. ' 

In  the  way  of  a  regular  cannonade,  this  combni  is  general- 
ly thought  to  have  been  the  severest  that  was  tbnght  in  the 
war  of  the  Revolution.  There  is  no  question  of  the  supe- 
riority of  the  Watt  in  every  thing  but  sailing,  she  having  been 
essentially  the  largest  and  strongest  ship,  besides  carrying 
more  guns  and  men  than  her  opponent.  Owing  to  the  difficul- 
ty of  obtaining  seamen,  that  has  been  so  often  mentioned, 
the  Trumbull's  crew  was  compoi  id,  in  a  great  degree,  of 
raw  hands,  and  Capt.  Nicholson  states  particularly  that 
many  of  his  people  were  suffering  under  sea-sickness  when 
they  went  to  their  guns. 

This  action  was  not  followed  by  another,  of  any  import- 
ance, in  which  a  government  cruiser  was  concerned,  until 
the  month  of  October,  when  the  U.  S.  sloop  of  war  Saratoga 
16,  Capt.  Young,  fell  in  with  and  captured  a  ship  and  two 
brigs,  the  former  of  which,  and  one  of  the  latter,  were  well 
armed.  The  conflict  with  the  ship,  which  was  called  the 
Charming  Molly,  was  conducted  with  a  spirit  and  prompti- 
tude that  are  deserving  of  mention.  Running  alongside, 
Capt.  Young  delivered  his  fire,  and  threw  fifty  men  on  the 
enemy's  decks,  when  a  fierce  but  short  struggle  ensued, 
that  ended  in  the  capture  of  the  British  ship.  Lieut.  Joshua 
Barney,  afterwards  so  distinguished  in  the  service,  led  the 


=/./;  > 


■A- 


niiln'i     I    »»Oi.M«»— »<*■« 


L*-"""!. 


'Mmr- 


.^a^i^^x 


y  - 


^pl 


KAVAL  HISTORY. 


boarders  on  this  occasion ;  and  the  crew  that  he  overcame 
\  4#  is  said  to  have  been  nearly  double  in  numbers  to  his  own 

,    party. 

After  malcing  these  and  one  other  capture,  the  Saratoga 
made  sail  for  the  capes  of  the  Delaware,  with  the  intention 
of  convoying  her  prizes  into  port.  The  following  day,  how- 
ever, the  convoy  was  chased  by  the  Intrepid  74,  Capt. 
Molloy,  which  ship  retook  all  the  prizes,  but  was  unable  to 
get  the  Saratoga  under  her  guns.  It  is  said,  and  we  find 
'  •  no  evidence  to  contradict  it,  that  the  Saratoga  never  re- 
turned to  port,  the  vessel  foundering,  and  her  crew  perish- 
ing at  sea,  unheard  of. 

The  brevity  of  the  regular  naval  annals  of  the  three  last 
years  of  the  war,  compels  us  to  compress  their  incidents  into 
a  single  chapter,  as  it  is  our  aim,  except  in  extraordinary 
instances,  not  to  blend  the  exploits  of  the  private  armed 
ships  with  those  of  the  public  cruisers.        )    '    ■ 

It  has  been  stated  already  that  Capt.  Landais  was  dis- 
missed from  the  service  soon  after  his  return  home,  when 
the  command  of  the  Alliance  32  was  given  to  Capt.  John 
Barry,  the  officer  who  had  made  so  gallant  a  resistance 
in  the  Raleigh,  not  long  previously.  In  February,  1781, 
Capt.  Barry  sailed  from  Boston  for  France,  in  command 
of  this  favourite  ship,  with  Colonel  i^aurens  on  board, 
which  well  known  and  much  regretted  young  officer  was 
charged  with  an  important  mission  to  the  French  court. 
On  the  outward  passage  the  Alliance  captured  a  small  priva- 
teer, called  the  Alert,  but  no  event  of  any  moment  occurred. 
After  landing  Mr.  Laurens,  the  frigate  sailed  from  I'Orient 
on  a  cruise,  with  the  Marquis  de  la  Fayette  40,  in  company, 
bound  to  America  with  stores.  Three  days  afterwards,  or  on 
the  2d  of  April,  1781,  they  fell  in  with  and  captured  two 
Guernsey  privateers,  one  of  which,  the  Mars,  is  said  to  have 
been  a  heavy  vessel  of  26  guns  and  112  men,  and  the  other, 
the  Minerva,  to  have  had  an  armament  of  10  guns,  and  a 

19* 


'*' 


;■»■ 


^>^ 


^.^"i. 


1     "^ 

I. 


#■• 


\ 


322 


ITAVAL  HISTORY. 


crow  of  r»5  souls.   Neither  of  these  cruisers  appears  to  have 
made  any  resistance.  •'        ,   .  i 

After  this  success,  the  Alliance  parted  company  with  her 
consort  and  the  prizes,  and  continued  to  cruise  until  the 
28th  of  May,  when  she  made  two  sail,  that  were  standing 
directly  for  her.     It  was  late  in  the  day,  and  the  strangers, 
when  near  enough  to  remain  in  sight  during  the  darkness, 
hauled  up  on  the  same  course  with  the  Alliance,  evidently 
with  a  view  to  defer  the  action  until  morning.    At  day-light 
on  the  succeeding  day,  it  was  nearly  a  dead  calm,  and 
when  the  mist  cleared  away,  the  two  strangers  were  seen 
at  no  great  distance,  with  English  colours  flying.    They 
were  now  distinctly  made  out  to  bo  a  sloop  of  war  that 
rated  10  guns,  and  a  brig  of  14.     The  sea  was  perfectly 
smooth,  and  there  being  no  wind,  the  two  light  cruisers  of 
the  enemy  were  enabled  to  sweep  up,  and  to  select  their 
positions,  while  the  Alliance  lay  almost  a  log  on  the  water, 
without  steerage  way.     Owing  to  these  circumstances,  it 
«vas  noon  before  the  vessels  were  near  enough  to  hail,  when 
the  action  commenced.    For  more  than  an  hour  the  Alli- 
ance fought  to  great  disadvantage,  the  enemy  having  got  on 
her  quarters,  where  only  a  few  of  the  aftermost  guns  would 
bear  on  them.   The  advantage  possessed  by  the  English  ves- 
sels, in  consequence  of  the  calm,  at  one  time,  indeed,  gave 
iheir  people  the  greatest  hopes  of  success,  for  they  had 
the  fight  principally  to  themselves.  While  things  were  in  this 
unfortunate  state,  Capt.  Barry  received  a  grape-shot  through 
his  shoulder,  and  was  carried  below.     This  additional  and 
disheartening  calamity  added  to  the  disadvantages  of  the 
Americans,  who  were  suffering  under  the  close  fire  of  two 
spirited  and  persevering  antagonists.    Indeed,  so  confident 
of  success  did  the  enemy  now  appear  to  be,  that  when  the 
ensign  of  the  Alliance  was  shot  away,  this  fact,  coupled  with 
the  necessary  slackness  of  her  fire,  induced  their  people  to 
quit  their  guns,  and  to  give  three  cheers  for  victory.     This 


i    :■     ' 


*- 


KAVAL  HISTORY. 


S23 


occurred  nt  a  moment  when  a  light  breeze  struck  the  Al- 
liance's sails,  and  she  came  fairly  under  steerage  way.  A 
sinf;le  broadside  from  a  manageable  ship  changed  the  entire 
state  of  the  combat,  and  sent  the  enemy  to  their  guns,  again, 
vv'  th  the  conviction  that  their  work  yet  remained  to  be  done. 
Alter  a  manly  resistance,  both  the  English  vessels,  in  the 
end,  were  compelled  to  haul  down  their  colours. 

The  prizes  proved  to  be  the  Atalanta  16,  Capt.  Edwards, 
with  a  crew  of  130  men,  and  the  Trepassy  14,  Capt. 
Smith,  with  a  crew  of  80  men.  Both  vessels  were  much 
cut  up,  and  they  sustained  a  joint  loss  of  41  men  in  kill- 
ed and  wounded.  Nor  did  the  Alliance  escape  with  im- 
punity, having  had  11  killed  and  21  wounded,  principally  by 
the  fire  of  her  enemies,  while  they  lay  on  her  quarters  and 
across  her  stern.  C'apt.  Barry  made  a  cartel  of  the  Tre- 
passy, and  sent  her  into  an  English  port  with  the  prisoners, 
but  the  Atlanta  was  retaken  by  the  enemy's  squadron  that 
was  cruising  off  Boston,  while  attempting  to  enter  that 
harbour. 

Fortune  now  became  capricious,  and  we  are  compelled 
to  present  the  other  side  of  the  picture.  Among  the  ships 
built  late  in  the  war,  was  the  Confederacy  32.  This  vessel 
had  been  launched  in  1778,  at,  or  near  Norwich,  in  Connec- 
ticut, and  the  command  of  her  was  given  to  Capt.  Setli 
Harding,  the  officer  who  commanded  the  Defence  14,  in  the 
action  in  Nantasket  Roads  with  the  two  transports  cap- 
tured in  1776.  Capt.  Harding  had  been  commissioned  in 
the  navy,  in  which  his  first  command  appears  to  have  been 
this  ship.  The  Confederacy  sailed  for  Europe  in  1779,  with 
Mr.  Jay,  the  minister  to  Spain,  on  board,  and  was  suddenly 
dismasted,  a  little  to  the  eastward  of  Bermuda.  Spar  fol- 
lowed spar,  in  this  calamity,  until  the  ship  lay  a  log  on  the 
water,  with  even  her  bowsprit  gone.  This  misfortune  must 
probably  be  atlribi.Uod,  like  so  many  similar,  that  have  suc- 
ceeded it,  to  the  rigging's  having  slackened,  after  having 


'"'ft. 


I 


.1. 


-*:. 


.Ji^-,  ».  ^.. 


J.. 


M 


it' 


324 


vi: 


NAVAL  HISTORT. 


been  set  up  in  cold  weather  at  home,  when  the  ship  got  into 
a  warm  latitude.  .  ' 

After  several  anxious  weeks,  the  Confederacy  got  into 
Martinique,  where  Mr.  Jay  obtained  a  passage  in  the  French 
frigate  I'Aurore,  and  the  American  vessel  remained  to  refit. 
From  that  time  to  the  commencement  of  the  present  year, 
the  Confederacy  was  employed,  like  most  of  the  large  ves- 
sels of  the  service,  in  that  stage  of  the  war,  in  keeping  open 
the  communications  between  the  country  and  the  different 
ports  were  supplies  were  obtained,  and  in  transporting 
stores.  Early  in  1781,  she  went  to  Cape  Francois,  and,  on 
the  22nd  of  June,  while  on  her  return,  with  clothing  and 
other  supplies  on  board,  and  with  a  convoy  in  charge,  she 
was  chased  by  a  large  ship,  which  succeeded  in  getting 
along  side  of  her.  Capt.  Harding  had  gone  to  quarters, 
and  was  about  to  open  his  fire,  when  the  en^my  ran  out  a 
lower  tier  of  guns,  and,  a  frigate  being  in  company  a  short 
distance  astern,  he  struck.  Several  of  the  convoy  were  also 
taken. 

The  British  stated  the  armament  of  the  Confederacy  to 
have  been,  when  taken,  28  twelves,  and  8  sixes,  or  36  guns. 
Quitting  this  unlucky  vessel,  we  shall  now  return  to  the  oiJy 
other  frigate  that  was  built  in  Connecticut,  during  the  war. 

Capt.  Nicholson  continued  in  command  of  the  Trumbull, 
after  his  severe  conflict  with  the  Watt,  and  we  find  him  at 
sea  again  in  that  ship,  in  the  summer  of  1781.  She  left  the 
Delaware  on  the  eighth  of  August,  with  a  crew  short  of  200 
men,  of  which  near  50  were  of  the  questionable  materials  to 
be  found  among  the  prisoners  of  war.  She  had  a  convoy 
of  twenty  eight  sail,  and  a  heavy  privateer  was  in  company. 
Off  the  capes,  the  Trumbull  made  three  British  cruisers 
astern.  Two  of  the  enemy's  cruisers,  one  of  which  was  a 
frigate,  stood  for  the  Trumbull,  which  ship,  by  hauling  up, 
was  enabled  to  gain  the  wind  of  them.  Night  was  near, 
and  it  blew  heavily.    The  merchantmen  began  to  diverge 


.V. 


w 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


■.f. 


225 


from  the  course,  though,  by  carrying  easy  sail,  the  Trum- 
bull was  enabled  to  keep  most  of  them  ahead,  and  in  their 
stations.  While  standing  on  in  this  manner,  hoping  every 
thing  from  the  darkness,  a  squall  carried  away  the  Trum- 
bull's fore-top-mast,  which,  in  falling,  brought  down  with  it 
the  main-top-gallant  mast.  As  the  weather  was  thick  and 
squally,  the  vessels  in  company  of  the  Trumbull  took  advan- 
tage of  the  obscurity  and  scattered,  each  making  the  best 
of  her  way,  according  to  her  particular  rate  of  sailing. 
The  Trumbull  herself  was  compelled  to  bear  Up,  in  order 
to  carry  the  canvass  necessary  to  escape,  but  with  the 
wreck  over  her  bows,  and  a  crew  that  was  not  only  deficient 
in  numbers,  but  which  was  raw,  and  in  part  disaffected,  her 
situation  became  in  the  last  degree,  embarrassing,  indeed, 
her  condition  has  been  described  as  being  so  peculiarly  dis- 
tressing, as  almost  to  form  an  instance  of  its  own,  of  the 
difficulties  that  sometimes  accompany  naval  warfare. 

About  10  o'clock  at  night,  the  British  frigate  Iris*  32,  one 
of  the  vessels  in  chase;  closed  with  the  Trumbull,  which  ship, 
on  account  of  the  heaviness  of  the  weather,  had  not  yet  been 
able  to  clear  the  wreck.  In  the  midst  of  rain  and  squalls, 
in  a  tempestuous  night,  with  most  of  the  forward  hamper  of 
the  ship  over  her  bows,  or  lying  on  the  fore-castle,  with 
one  of  the  arms  of  the  fore-topsail  yard  run  through  her 
foresail,  and  the  other  jammed  on  deck,  and  with  a  disor- 
ganized crew,  Capt.  Nicholson  found  himself  compelled  to 
go  to  quarters,  or  to  strike  without  resistance.   He  preferred 


%^-^, 


•  The  Iris  had  been  the  United  States  ship  Hancock  32,  Capt.  Manly, 
and  was  captured  by  the  Rainbow  44,  Sir  George  Collier,  with  the  Victor 
16,  in  sight,  and  Flora  32,  in  chase  of  her  prize,  the  Fox.  The  Hancock, 
or  Iris,  proved  to  be  one  of  the  fastest  ships  on  the  American  station,  and 
made  the  fortunes  of  ail  who  commanded  her.  Capt.  Manly  is  thought 
to  have  lost  her,  in  consequence  of  having  put  her  out  of  trim,  by  starting 
her  water,  while  chased.  The -ship,  in  the  end,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
Frcncli  in  the  West  Indies. 


U-. 


f 


.m 


^.         1:' 


>  ^•^ 


226 


H^.^. 


WAVAt  HISTORY. 


i^j^ 


the  first,  but  the  English  volunteers,  instead  of  obeying  the 
order,  went  below,  extinguished  the  lights,  and  secreted 
themselves.  Near  half  of  the  remainder  of  the  people  imi- 
tated this  example,  and  Capt.  Nicholson  could  not  muster 
fifty  of  even  the  diminished  crew  he  had,  at  the  guns.  The 
battle  that  followed,  might  almost  be  said  to  have  been 
fought  by  the  officers.  These  brave  men,  sustained  by  a 
party  of  the  petty  officers  and  seamen,  managed  a  few  of  the 
guns,  for  more  than  an  hour,  when  the  General  Monk  18, 
coming  up,  and  joining  in  the  fire  of  the  Iris,  the  Trumbull 
submitted. 

In  this  singular  combat,  it  has  even  been  asserted  that  at 
no  time  were  40  of  the  Trumbull's  people  at  their  quarters. 
It  was  probably  owing  to  this  circumstance  that  her  loss  was 
so  small,  for  the  ship  herself  is  said  to  have  been  extensively 
cut  up.  She  had  five  men  killed  and  eleven  wounded.  Among 
the  latter  were  two  of  the  lieutenants,  and  Mr.  Alexander 
Murray,  a  gentleman  of  Maryland,  who  had  been  educated 
to  the  seas,  and  had  been  in  the  action  with  the  Watt,  but 
who  was  then  serving  as  a  volunteer,  and  who,  after  com> 
manding  several  private  cruisers,  entered  the  navy,  and 
subsequently  died  at  the  head  of  the  service  in  1821.  Mr. 
Murray  was  particularly  distinguished  in  this  aflfair,  and  the 
conduct  of  Capt.  Nicholson*  met  with  much  applause.  The 


*  As  the  family  of  Capt.  Nicholson  may  be  said  to  be  naval,  it  is  due  to 
our  subject  to  give  some  account  of  it.  The  ancestor  of  this  officer  emi- 
grated from  Berwick-upon-Tweed,  at  the  commencement  of  the  eighteenth 
century,  and  established  himself  in  Maryland,  where  he  obtained  a  grant 
called  Nicholson's  Manor,  near  the  passage  through  the  Blue  Ridge  which 
is  still  known  as  Nicholson's  Gap.  This  property  was  subsequently  sold, 
and  an  estate  was  purchased  on  the  Eastern  Shore,  where  James  Nichol- 
son was  born  in  1737. 

James  Nicholson  was  the  second  son  of  a  numerous  family,  and  he  was 
sent  to  England  for  his  education.  He  returned  home  young,  however, 
and  chose  the  sea  as  a  profession.  In  1762,  in  common  with  many  Ame- 
ricans, he  assisted  at  the  siege  of  the  Havana.     In  ^763,  he  married. 


'.i^'- 


>  /^ 


ft'..       di 


m: 


■;.  '^--yj 


■4  - 


NAVAL  HISTORV. 


-"W    227 


Iris  suffered  more  than  could  have  been  expected  under 
such  circumstances,  and  reported  seven  men  killed  and 
wounded.    i.^-:-u.j'f  ■?  ,    .  .. ;'    -  .■■■,■' a   ;-;.--=:-■%   .;.       -yx  *''''■  .'^ 

When  the  war  broke  out,  in  1775,  Mr.  Nicholson  was  residing  on  the 
Eastern  Shore,  and  he  was  immediately  appointed  to  the  command  of  a 
vessel  called  the  Defence,  that  was  equipped  by  the  Colony  of  Maryland, 
and  in  which  cruiser  he  was  active  and  useful.  His  appointment  as  cap- 
tain of  the  Virginia  28,  took  place  June  6th,  1776,  and  when  the  rank  was 
arranged  on  the  10th  of  October,  of  the  same  year,  he  was  put  at  the  head 
of  the  list  of  captains.  At  this  time  Com.  Hopkins  was  commander-in- 
chief,  but  when  he  was  dismissed,  Capt.  Nicholson  became  the  senior  of- 
ficer of  the  navy,  a  station  that  he  held  to  its  dissolution. 

The  Virginia  being  blockaded,  Capt,  Nicholson  and  his  cfew  joined  the 
army  under  Washington,  and  were  present,  in  the  darkest  moment  of  the 
war,  at  the  battle  of  Trenton.  The  manner  in  which  the  Virginia  was 
lost  has  been  related. 

The  two  battles  fought  by  Com.  Nicholson  while  in  command  of  the 
Trumbull  28,  were  sanguinary  and  hotly  contested.  In  both  cases  the 
crews  were,  in  a  great  degree,  composed  of  landsmen;  and  in  the  last  ac- 
tion, none  but  a  man  of  the  highest  notions  of  military  honour  would  have 
thought  resistance  necessary.  To  say  nothing  of  the  condition  of  his 
ship,  the  Iris  (Hancock)  was  one  of  the  largest  frigates  built  by  the  Ame- 
ricans in  the  Revolution,  and  the  Trumbull  was  one  of  the  smallest.  The 
Monk  was  a  heavy  sloop  of  war,  for  that  day,  as  is  known  from  her  sub- 
sequently falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Americans.       ''  ,  '    i.';    .,•-:' 

Com.  Nicholson  was  not  exchanged  until  near  the  close  of  the  war,  and 
there  being  no  ship  for  him,  he  never  went  to  sea  again  in  service.  He 
subsequently  settled  in  New-York,  where  he  held  a  respectable  civil  ap- 
pointment under  the  general  government.  He  died  September  2d,  1804, 
leaving  three  daughters,  one  of  whom  married  Albert  Gallatin,  ex-secre- 
tary of  the  treasury,  &c.  &c.  &c. 

Samuel  and  John,  the  brothers  of  James  Nicholson,  were  both  captains 
in  the  navy  of  the  Revolution,  and  the  former  died  at  the  head  of  the  ser- 
vice, in  1811.  Com.  S.  Nicholson  had  four  sons  in  the  navy,  and  his  brother 
John,  three.  Indeed,  the  third  generation  of  this  family,  as  in  the  case  of 
the  Perrys,  are  now  in  the  service.  In  the  whole,  fifteen  gentlemen  of 
tliis  name  and  family  have  served  since  1775,  of  whom  two  have  actually 
worn  broad  pennants,  and  a  third  died  just  as  he  was  appointed  to  one. 
In  addition,  several  officers  of  distinction  were  near  relatives.  Com.  Mur- 
ray having  been  a  cousin-german  of  Com.  Nicholson,  and  Capt.  Gordon 
his  nephew.  ' 


'*!»»•_■ 


>■*"' 


m^ 


^•■•f 


228 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


^i 


As  affording  some  relief  to  the  loss  of  the  Trumbull,  we 
now  come  to  a  handsome  exploit  that  occurred  soon  after, 
which  ought,  perhaps,  properly,  to  take  its  place  among  the 
deeds  of  the  private  cruisers,  but  which  is  of  sufficient  im- 
portance to  be  mentioned  here,  and  this  so  much  the  more, 
as  a  portion  of  those  engaged  belonged  to  the  regular  ser- 
vice of  the  country.  A  private  cruiser  called  the  Congress 
had  been  fitted  out  in  Philadelphia,  in  the  course  of  the 
summer,  and  in  September  she  was  cruising  on  the  coast  of 
the  Carolinas  and  Georgia.  The  Congress  had  an  arma- 
ment of  20  guns,  according  to  the  American  accounts,  and 
of  24  according  to  the  English,  and  she  was  commanded  by 
Capt.  Geddes.  Few  of  her  people  were  seamen,  of  which 
there  was  now  a  great  scarcity  in  the  country,  but  her  com- 
plement was  made  up,  in  a  great  degree,  of  landsmen.  ..> 

On  the  morning  of  the  6th  of  September,  cruising  to  the 
eastward  of  Charleston,  the  Congress  made  a  sail,  to  which 
she  gave  chase.  The  stranger  was  soon  discovered  to  be  a 
cruiser,  and  at  first  showed  a  disposition  to  engage,  but, 
after  some  manoeuvring  she  stood  off.  At  half  past  ten  the 
Congress  began  to  fire  her  bow  guns,  and  at  eleven  being 
close  up  on  the  enemy's  quarter,  she  opened  a  heavy  fire  of 
musketry,  which  did  a  good  deal  of  execution.  Drawing 
ahead,  the  Congress  now  delivered  her  broadside,  and  it  was 
returned  with  spirit.  At  first  the  enemy  got  a  cross  fire 
upon  the  Congress,  and  the  latter  ship  meeting  with  an  ac- 
cident, fell  astern  to  refit.  But  soon  closing  again,  the 
combat  was  renewed  with  fresh  vigour,  and  the  Congress 
having  got  her  enemy  fairly  under  her  guns,  in  less  than  an 
hour,  left  her  a  nearly  unmanageable  wreck  on  the  water. 
Notwithstanding  his  condition,  the  Englishman  showed  no 
disposition  to  submit,  and  the  Congress  ran  so  close  along 
side,  that  the  men  were  said  to  be  reciprocally  burned  by 
the  discharges  of  the  guns.  The  quarter-deck  and  fore- 
castle of  the  enemy  had  scarcely  a  man  left  on  it,  and  his 


mm 


•.*- 


y 


■^- 


t'^ 


,* 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


% 


329 


fire  began  to  slacken  in  consequence  of  several  of  his  guns 
having  been  dismounted.  In  this  stage  of  the  engagement 
shot  were  even  thrown  by  hand  and  did  execution.  At 
length  the  mizzen-mast  of  the  English  ship  fell,  and  the 
main-mast  threatening  to  follow  it,  her  boatswain  appeared 
on  the  forecastle,  with  his  hat  in  his  hand,  and  called  out 
that  his  commander  had  struck.  The  prize  proved  to  be  the 
British  sloop  of  war  Savage  16,  Capt.  Stirling. 

The  accounts  of  the  respective  force  of  the  vessels  engaged 
in  this  warm  contest,  differ  essentially ;  and,  as  is  usual  in  such 
matters,  it  is  probable  that  the  truth  lies  between  them. 
There  is  little  question  of  the  superiority  of  the  Congress  in 
guns,  metal  and  men ;  but  when  it  is  remembered  that  the 
conqueror  was  a  private  armed  ship,  with  a  raw  crew,  and 
that  the  captured  vessel  was  a  regular  cruiser  that  had  been 
long  actively  employed,  it  would  not  be  just  to  withhold  from 
Capt.  Geddes  and  his  people,  the  credit  of  having  performed 
a  handsome  naval  exploit.  As  in  other  things,  there  is  a 
discrepancy  also  in  the  account  of  the  losses  of  the  two 
ships.  The  Congress  is  said,  by  Capt.  Stirling,  to  have  had 
about  fifty  men  killed  and  wounded ;  and  by  the  American 
accounts,  to  have  lost  only  thirty.  The  former  makes  the 
loss  of  the  Savage  eight  killed,  and  twenty-four  wounded ; 
while  the  Americans  raise  it  as  high  as  to  a  total  of  fifty- 
four.  There  is  a  reason  to  question  the  accuracy  of  the 
published  English  account  of  this  affair,  to  be  found  in  the 
fact,  that  Capt.  Stirling,  while  he  does  not  state  that  he 
was  short-handed,  tells  us  that  he  had  but  forty  men  left  at 
their  quarters  when  he  struck.  By  adding  this  number  to 
the  thirty-two  killed,  or  disabled  by  wounds,  we  get  a  total 
of  but  seventy-two  for  the  crew  of  a  frigate-built  sloop  of 
war,  a  fact  that  requires  explanation  to  receive  credit,  and 
which,  if  true,  would  have  so  fairly  entered  into  the  relation 
of  the  defeat,  as  an  extenuating  circumstance.  Official  ac- 
counts of  defeats  so  often  undergo  changes  and  mutilations 

Vol.  I.— 20 


•  '^ 


M 


m 


230 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


.Av^:. 


between  the  hands  of  the  writer  and  their  publication,  that 
we  are  not  necessarily  to  attribute  wilful  misrepresentation 
to  a  gallunt  but  unfortunate  officer,  because  the  documents 
laid  before  the  world  do  not  always  rigidly  coincide  with 
probability,  or  the  truth  as  it  has  been  derived  from  other 
sources.  The  Savage  was  re-captured  by  a  British  frigate, 
and  taken  into  Charleston.  Capt.  Geddes  got  much  credit 
for  this  affair ;  and,  at  a  later  day,  we  find  his  name  among 
those  of  the  captains  of  the  navy. 

We  have  now  reached  the  year  1782,  which  was  virtu- 
ally the  last  of  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  though  some 
events  will  remain  to  be  recorded  in  the  early  part  of  the 
year  1783.  In  the  commencement  of  this  year,  the  Deane 
32,  made  a  successful  cruise,  in  which  she  took  several  pri- 
vate armed  vessels  of  the  enemy.  By  some  accounts,  three 
of  her  prizes  were  sloops  of  war,  viz.  the  Regulator  18, 
the  Swallow  16,  and  the  Jackall  14;  bit  we  think  it  pro- 
bable, that  there  may  have  been  some  mistake  as  to  their 
characters.  On  this  otxasion,  the  Deane  was  commanded 
by  Capt.  Samuel  Nicholson. 

The  favourite  ship,  the  Alliance*  32,  Capt.  Barry,  was 
much  employed  this  year,  her  superior  sailing  making  her  a 
vessel  in  constant  demand.  Among  other  services  that  she 
performed,  this  ship  was  sent  to  the  Havana  for  specie, 
whence  she  sailed,  in  company  with  the  Luzerne,  a  ship  load- 
ed with  supplies.  Shortly  after  quitting  port,  some  enemy's 
vessels  fell  in  with  them,  and  gave  chase.  While  running 
from  this  force,  a  large  sail  was  seen  on  the  Alliance's 
weather  bow,  which  was  soon  made  out  to  be  a  French  50, 
of  two  decks.  Exchanging  signals,  arid  supposing  that  the 
French  vessel  would  sustain  him,  Capt.  Barry  immediately 


*  One  of  Uie  tnulitions  of  the  service  states  that  the  Alliance  was  chased 
this  year,  by  an  enemy's  two-decker,  and  that  she  ran  15  knots  by  the 
log,  with  the  wind  abeam,  in  making  her  escape  ! 


A* 


^. 


■*.     ^ 


'*♦-.- 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


m 


wore  round,  and  brought  the  leading  vessel  of  the  enemy 
to  action;  the  others  manoeuvring  in  a  way  to  engage 
the  attention  of  the  fifty.  The  latter,  however,  kept  her 
wind ;  and  after  a  sharp  fight  of  more  than  half  an  hour,  the 
English  ship  engaged  with  the  Alliance,  finding  herself  hard 
pushed,  made  signals  to  her  consorts  to  join,  when  Capt. 
Barry  hauled  off.  The  Alliance  now  stood  for  the  French 
ship,  and  speaking  her,  it  was  determined  to  bring  the 
enemy  to  action  again,  in  company.  On  naking  sail  in 
chase,  however,  it  was  soon  found  that  the  fifty  was  too 
dull  a  sailer  to  give  the  least  hope  of  overtaking  the  enemy, 
and  the  attempt  was  abandoned. 

In  this  action,  the  Alliance  had  3  killed  and  1 1  wounded ; 
while  it  is  said  that  the  loss  of  the  enemy  was  very  heavy. 
Some  statements  place  the  latter  as  high  as  87  men ;  but 
no  accounts  can  be  discovered,  that  give  a  very  clear  his- 
tory of  this  affair.  Even  the  name  of  the  English  ship  ap- 
pears  to  be  lost.  One  of  the  enemy,  by  some  of  the  ac- 
counts, was  said  to  be  a  ship  of  the  line,  and  the  ship  en- 
gaged by  the  Alliance,  a  heavy  sloop  of  war. 

The  command  of  the  Hague,  one  of  the  two  frigates 
now  left  in  the  American  marine,  was  given  to  Capt. 
Manly,  after  her  return  from  the  cruise  under  Capt.  Nichol- 
son ;  and  this  officer,  who  had  virtually  begun  the  mari- 
time war,  on  the  part  of  the  United  States,  in  a  manner 
closed  it,  by  an  arduous  and  brilliant  chase,  in  which  he 
escaped  from  several  of  the  enemy's  ships  in  the  West  In- 
dies, after  being  for  a  considerable  time  under  the  guns  of 
a  vastly  superior  force.  This  occurrence  may  be  said  to 
have  brought  the  regular  naval  warfare  of  the  United 
States  to  an  end,  so  far  as  the  government  cruisers  were 
concerned,  peace  haying  been  made  early  in  1783. 


.'> 


i- 


11232 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


'V 


■  •\  V 


/     ■'    '.V 


CHAPTER  XII. 


Although  wc  have  introduced  a  few  of  the  prominent 
actions  in  which  the  privateers  were  concerned  in  this  war, 
it  has  been  as  exceptions.  Most  of  the  accounts  of  such 
conflicts  are  of  a  questionable  nature,  depending  principally 
on  the  rumours  of  the  day,  as  they  were  written  out  for  the 
newspapers,  though  it  is  known  that  many  of  the  exploits 
of  this  description  of  vessels  were  of  a  brilliant  kind,  and 
every  way  entitled  to  respect.  Indeed,  the  private  cruisers 
of  America  have  always  had  a  character  superior  to  those  of 
other  countries;  a  fact  thai  is  owing  to  the  greater  degree  of 
relative  respectability  that  is  attached  to  the  profession  of 
a  seaman  in  this  country,  than  it  is  usual  to  find  elsewhere, 
and  to  the  circumstance  that  the  public  marine  has  never 
been  sufficiently  large  to  receive  all  of  those  who  would 
willingly  take  service  in  it,  when  the  nation  has  been  en- 
gaged in  war.  ':^i  ' 

Privateering,  in  the  abstract,  is  a  profession  of  which 
reason  and  good  morals  can  scarcely  approve ;  for  what- 
ever may  be  its  legality,  its  aim  is  to  turn  the  waste  and 
destruction  of  war,  to  the  benefit  of  avarice.  But  circum- 
stances may,  and  in  the  two  contests  that  have  taken 
place  between  Great  Britain  and  the  United  States,  these 
circumstances  did  offer  so  many  apologies  for  engaging  in 
the  pursuit,  as  almost  to  raise  it  to  the  dignity  of  a  more 
approved  warfare.     Without  regular  fleets,  borne  upon  by 


.- Ji.-ik  -       J  .jft^iiil^: 


Mf 


,* 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


288 


a  powerful  nation  that  claimed  to  command  the  ocean,  and 
unable  to  assail  t'  ..  enemy  in  any  other  manner,  most  of 
the  American  seamen  have  found  themselves  reduced  to 
the  necessity  cf  choosing  between  idleness,  during  struggles 
that  involved  the  dearest  rights  of  the  country,  or  of  en* 
gaging  in  this  mode  of  endeavouring  to  bring  their  enemies 
to  terms.  It  is  due  to  these  brave  men  to  say,  that,  as  a 
rule,  their  conduct  while  afloat,  has  generally  coincided 
with  the  sentiments  here  attributed  to  them;  American  pri- 
vateering having  in  all  ages,  been  as  little  stigmatized  by 
acts  of  oppression  and  rapine,  as  the  conduct  of  most  re- 
gular marines. 

In  many  instances,  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  the 
private  armed  cruisers  displayed  an  honourable  chivalry,  by 
engaging  vessels  of  war,  that  sufficiently  shows  the  spirit  of 
their  commanders ;  and  we  find  them  nearly  always  ready, 
when  occasions  have  offered,  to  quit  their  more  peculiar  oc- 
cupation, that  of  assailing  the  enemy's  commerce,  in  order 
to  lend  their  aid  in  any  of  the  regular  military  expedi- 
tions of  the  country,  that  required  it.  In  short,  in  this  war, 
the  officer  and  the  common  man,  appear  equally  to  have 
passed,  at  need,  from  the  deck  of  the  public,  to  that  of  the 
private  cruiser,  knowing  little  difference  between  ships  that 
carried  the  ensign  of  the  republic,  and  which,  in  their  eyes, 
were  engaged  in  the  san>e  sacred  cause. 

As  respects  the  service  of  the  colonial  or  state  cruisers, 
there  would  be  less  reason  to  regard  the  accounts  with  dis- 
trust, but  their  records  are  scattered  in  so  many  different 
offices,  and  the  marines  themselves  were  so  irregular,  that 
it  is  almost  impossible  to  obtain  authentic  details,  at  this 
distant  day.  In  many  instances,  these  vessels  did  excellent 
service ;  and,  in  addition  to  a  few  tliat  have  already  been 
incorporated  in  this  work,  among  the  more  regular  inci- 
dents of  the  war,  we  shall  add  the  accounts  of  one  or  two 
of  their  actions,  as  they  have  been  obtained  from  the  best 

20* 


I' 


% 


■-.rr^j'iii^!  ■ 


&At:> 


4r 


S34 


fTAVAL  HISTORY. 


authorities  that  now  offer,  considering  them  entitled  to  pre- 
cedence, before  we  give  an  outline  of  the  service  perform- 
ed by  the  private  armed  cruisers. 

In  March  1782,  the  Delaware  was  much  infested  by 
barges  and  small  cruisers  of  the  enemy,  which  not  unfre- 
quently  made  prizes  of  vessels  belonging  to  the  Americans, 
as  well  as  molesting  the  people  who  dwelt  near  the  water. 
With  a  view  to  keep  the  navigation  open  against  these 
marauders,  at  least,  the  state  of  Pennsylvania  deter- 
mined to  fit  out  a  cruiser  or  two,  at  its  own  expense, 
and  with  such  materials  as  could  be  hastily  collected. 
With  this  object,  a  small  ship  called  the  Hyder  Ally  was 
purchased.  So  suddenly  did  the  local  government  come 
to  its  resolution,  that  the  vessel  just  named,  when  bought, 
had  actually  dropped  down  the  river,  on  an  outward- 
bound  voyage,  loaded  with  ilour.  She  was  brought  back, 
her  cargo  was  discharged,  and  an  armament  of  sixteen 
six-pounders  was  put  upon  her.  So  little,  however,  was 
this  ship  ready  for  war,  that  she  had  to  be  pierced  in  or- 
der to  receive  her  guns.  Indeed  so  pressing  was  the 
emergency,  that  the  merchants  of  Philadelphia  anticipat- 
ed the  passage  of  the  law  to  authorize  the  purchase  and 
equipment  of  this  ship,  by  advancing  funds  for  that  purpose ; 
and  the  act  bad  not  actually  gone  through  all  its  legal 
forms,  until  after  the  exploit  we  are  about  to  record  had 
been  performed!  The  commissioners  entrusted  with  the 
duty  of  preparing  the  ship,  selected  Lieut.  Joshua  Barney, 
of  the  United  States  navy,  as  her  commander,  a  young  offi- 
cer of  great  decision  of  character  and  personal  bravery, 
who  had  already  distinguished  himself  in  subordinate  sta- 
tions, on  board  of  different  cruisers  of  the  general  govern- 
ment, but  who,  like  so  many  more  of  the  profession,  was 
obliged  frequently  to  choose  between  idleness,  or  a  service 
less  regular  than  that  to  which  he  properly  belonged. 

A  crew  of  110  men  was  put  on  board  the  Hyder  Ally; 


WTf' 


-* 


,^M^ 


y)--' 


,¥ 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


285 


and  within  a  fortnight  after  he  was  appointed  to  command 
her,  Cupt.  Barney  sailed.  It  was  not  the  intention  of  the 
state  of  Pennsylvania,  that  their  ship  should  go  to  sea,  but 
merely  that  she  should  keep  the  navigation  of  the  river  and 
bay  open,  and  drive  off  privateers,  and  other  small  cruisers. 
On  the  8th  of  April,  the  Hyder  Ally  got  into  the  bay  with  a 
considerable  convoy  of  outward-bound  merchantmen.  The 
whole  fleet  had  anchored  in  the  roads  ofT  Cape  May,  in 
waiting  for  a  wind  to  get  to  sea,  when  two  ships  and  a 
brig,  one  of  the  former  a  frigate,  were  seen  rounding  the 
Cape,  evidently  with  a  view  to  attack  them.  Capt.  Barney 
immediately  run  up  a  signal  for  the  convoy  to  trip,  and  to 
stand  up  the  bay  again,  the  wind  being  to  the  southward. 
This  order  was  principally  obeyed,  and  in  a  few  minutes, 
the  merchant  vessels,  with  one  exception,  >vere  running 
off  before  the  wind,  with  every  thing  set  that  would  draw, 
the  Hyder  Ally  covering  their  retreat,  under  easy  sail.  The 
vessel  that  remained,  endeavoured  to  get  to  sea,  by  hauling 
close  round  the  cape,  but  grounded  and  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy.  Another  vessel  got  on  the  shoals,  and  was 
taken  by  a  boat  from  the  nearest  of  the  English  cruisers. 

An  extensive  shoal,  called  the  "  Over  Falls,"  forms  two 
channels,  in  the  lower  part  of  the  Delaware  Bay,  and 
while  the  convoy  passed  up  the  easternmost  of  these  chan- 
nels, or  that  which  is  known  as  the  "  Cape  May  Channel," 
the  frigate  stood  towards  the  western,  which  offered  a  bet- 
ter chance  to  head  the  fugitives  at  the  point  where  the  two 
united,  and  which  had  the  most  water.  The  remaining  ship 
and  the  brig,  stood  on  in  the  direction  of  the  Hyder  Ally. 

It  was  not  long  before  the  brig,  which  proved  to  be  a 
British  privateer  out  of  New  York,  called  the  Fair  Ameri- 
can, came  up  with  the  Hyder  Ally,  when  the  latter  offered 
her  battle.  But,  firing  a  broadside,  the  privateer  kept 
aloof,  and  continued  up  the  bay.  Capt.  Barney  declined  to 
return  this  fire,  holding  himself  in  reserve  for  the  ship  astern. 


^. 


'^ 


•^i* 


_^tiJ       <  'l 


# 


286 


NAVAL  HISTORT. 


* 


,*■ 


Q  large  sloop  of  war,  which  was  fast  coming  up.  When  the 
latter  got  quite  near,  the  Hyder  Ally,  which  had  kept  close 
to  the  shoal,  lufTed  and  threw  in  her  broadside,  and  imme- 
diately righting  her  helm,  keeping  away  again.  The  ene- 
my stood  boldly  on,  and  just  as  his  forward  guns  were 
beginning  to  bear,  the  two  vessels  being  within  pistol  shot, 
the  Hydor  Ally  attempted  to  luff  athwart  his  hawse,  when 
the  jib-boom  of  the  English  ship  ran  into  her  forerigging, 
and  the  two  vessels  got  foul.  It  is  said  that  Capt.  Barney 
obtained  this  advantage  by  deceiving  his  enemy,  having 
given  an  order  to  port  the  helm,  in  a  loud  voice,  when  se- 
cret instructions  had  been  given  to  the  quarter-master  at  the 
wheel,  to  put  his  helm  hard  a-starboard.  The  Hyder  Ally 
now  opened  a  severe  raking  fire,  and  in  less  than  half  an 
hour  from  the  commencement  of  the  action,  the  stranger 
struck,  the  ships  remaining  foul  of  each  other.  .<.     ,  •-,  . 

The  frigate,  which  had  not  actually  got  into  the  western 
channel,  perceiving  the  state  of  things,  changed  her  course, 
with  a  view  to  get  round  to  the  combatants,  and  Capt.  Bar- 
ney had  no  time  to  lose.  Throwing  his  first  lieutenant, 
with  a  party,  on  board  the  prize,  he  ordered  her  to  continue 
up  the  bay,  while  he  covered  the  retreat  with  his  own  ship. 
In  the  mean  while,  the  brig  had  run  aground  above,  in  chase 
of  the  convoy.  There  is  some  reason  to  suppose  that  the 
commander  of  the  frigate  did  not  know  the  result  of  tha 
action,  for  he  made  signals  to  the  prize,  and  anchored  about 
sunset,  leaving  the  Hyder  Ally,  which  had  been  kept  a  long 
distance  astern  of  the  other  vessels,  with  a  view  to  divert 
his  attention,  to  proceed  to  Philadelphia  without  further 
molestation. 

Up  to  this  moment,  Capt.  Barney  did  not  even  know  the 
name  of  his  prize.  He  now  made  sail,  however,  and  run- 
ning along  side  of  her,  for  the  first  time  he  learned  he  had 
captured  his  Britannic  Majesty's  ship.  General  Monk,  18, 
Capt.  Rogers.   This  vessel  had  formerly  been  the  American 


!', 


'.;^_.*^,.^ 


*i 


* 


If  AVAL  HISTORY. 


237 


privateer,  General  Washington,  and  having  fallen  into  the 
power  of  Admiral  Arbuthnot,  he  had  taken  her  into  the 
king's  service,  given  her  a  new  name,  and  promoted  a  fa- 
vourite officer  to  her  command.  The  Monk  mountei' 
twenty  nines,  and  is  said  to  have  had  a  crew  of  136  men. 
Capt.  Rogers  reported  his  loss  at  0  killed,  and  20  wounded; 
but  Capt.  Barney  stated  it  at  20  killed,  and  36  wounded. 
It  is  probable  that  the  latter  account  is  nearest  the  truth,  as 
the  commander  of  a  captured  vessel  has  not  always  as 
good  an  opportunity  as  his  captor,  to  ascertain  his  own  loss. 
The  Hyder  Ally  had  4  killed,  and  11  wounded. 

This  action  has  been  justly  deemed  one  of  the  most  bril- 
liant that  ever  occurred  under  the  American  flag.  It  was 
fought  in  the  presence  of  a  vastly  superior  force  that  was 
not  engaged;  and  the  ship  taken,  was  in  every  essential  re- 
spect, superior  to  her  conqueror.  The  disproportion  in 
metal,  between  a  six  pounder  and  a  nine  pounder,  is  one- 
half;  and  the  Monk,  besides  being  a  heavier  and  a  larger 
ship,  had  the  most  men.  Both  vessels  appeared  before 
Philadelphia,  a  few  hours  after  the  action,  bringing  with 
them  even  their  dead ;  and  most  of  the  leading  facts  were 
known  to  the  entire  community  of  the  place.*  '  j 


^ 


*  A  biography  of  the  life  of  Capt.  Rogers  has  appeared;  and,  in  this  work, 
it  is  asserted  th?^  the  armament  of  the  General  Monk  was  of  nine-pound 
earronades,  and  that  the  guns  were  so  light,  that  they  were  dismounted 
by  ihe  i  icoils.  The  defeat  is  imputed  to  this  cause.  In  the  subsequent 
actioi.  mentioned  in  the  text,  the  Monk,  then  the  General  Washington, 
is  sale  to  have  suffered  a  disadvantage,  in  consequence  of  her  nines  being 
sixes  bored  out  to  the  former  calibre,  the  guns  not  having  weight  enough 
to  bear  the  recoil.  This  is  a  professional  fact,  that  might  well  enough 
occur.  It  is,  therefore,  probable  that,  when  taken,  the  Monk  had  these 
same  nines,  and  that  some  may  have  been  dismoimted  by  the  recoil.  But, 
on  the  other  hand,  the  Monk  could  have  lost  near  half  her  g^ns,  in  this 
way,  and  still  have  been  equal  to  the  Hyder  Ally;  and  the  fact  appears  to 
be  ceilain,  that  the  combat  was  settled  by  the  bold  manoeuvre  of  Capt. 
Barney.  It  is  mentioned,  moreover,  in  this  same  biography,  that  Capt. 
Rogers  had  been  two  years  very  actively  employed  in  the  Monk,  when 


^      i 


'^* 


>*:' 


.*:. 


'*;. 


338 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


The  steadiness  with  which  Capt.  Barney  protected  his 
convoy,  the  gallantry  and  conduct  with  which  he  engaged, 
and  the  perseverance  with  which  he  covered  the  retreat  of 
his  prize,  are  all  deserving  of  high  praise.  Throughout  the 
whole  affair,  this  officer  discovered  the  qualities  of  a  great 
naval  captain ;  failing  in  no  essential  of  that  distinguished 
character. 

The  Monk,  her  old  name  having  been  restored,  was  ta- 
ken into  the  service  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,*  and 


^     •"? 


•) 


she  was  taken;  and  it  will  be  admitted  as  singular,  that  he  did  not  under- 
stand  the  power  of  his  guns  by  that  time.  Reduced  charges,  too,  would 
hare  obviated  the  difficulty  in  a  combat  in  which  the  ships  touched  each 
other.  Carronades  were  scarcely  known  in  1782,  and  the  Monk  received 
her  outfit  in  1779.  Besides,  she  would  have  carried  much  heavier  car- 
ronades, had  she  carried  any,  the  weight  of  an  eighteen-pound  carron- 
ade  being  about  the  same  as  that  of  a  six-pounder.  The  biographer  has, 
no  doubt,  confounded  the  light  nines  with  carronades  of  that  calibre,  the 
latteiypun  being  much  in  use  when  he  wrote. 

*  The  biographer  of  Com.  Barney  has  assumed  that,  as  the  Gen.  Wash- 
ington was  employed  on  duty  in  behalf  of  the  United  States,  Mr.  Barney 
was  made  a  captain  in  the  navy.  By  the  instructions  published  in  this 
biography,  it  appears  that  the  commissioners  of  Pennsylvania  put  the  ship 
at  the  disposition  of  Mr.  Robert  Morris,  in  order  to  transport  specie  from 
the  Havana  to  this  country.  This  fact  alone  would  not  have  made  Mr. 
Barney  a  captain  in  the  navy;  or  the  master  of  every  merchantman  who 
is  employed  by  government  might  claim  that  rank.  It  does  not  make  a 
man  a  captain  in  the  navy,  to  command  a  frigate  even,  as  that  duty  may 
be  performed  by  a  gunner,  at  need.  The  commission  is  necessary  to 
make  a  captain;  and  this,  Mr.  Barney,  however  deserving  of  it,  does  not 
appear  to  have  ever  possessed  until  it  was  given  to  him  in  1794,  although 
he  remained  a  lieutenant  in  the  service  to  the  close  of  the  war.  The  Gen. 
Washington  was  employed  by  tlie  United  States  down  to  the  peace,  it  is 
true;  but  this  no  more  puts  a  ship  on  the  list,  than  an  officer  of  a  mer- 
chantman i '  put  on  the  list  by  his  vessel's  being  hired  as  a  transport. 
Government  may  put  its  officers  in  merchant-ships,  and  they  will  remain 
its  officers;  or  it  may  put  its  ships  temporarily  under  the  charge  of  mer- 
chant-officers, and  the  latter  will  not  be  in  the  navy.  It  may  hire,  borrow,  or 
forcibly  employ  vessels,  without  necessarily  placing  either  the  ships  or  their 


irA 


''.'4'^ 


w 


NAVAL  HISTORt. 


289 


was  shortly  after  sent  on  duty  in  behalf  of  the  United 
States,  to  the  West  Indies.  During  this  cruise,  Capt.  Bar- 
ney had  a  warm  engagement  with  an  English  armed  brig, 
supposed  to  have  been  a  privateer,  of  about  an  equal 
force,  but  she  escaped  from  him,  the  meeting  occurring  in 
the  night,  and  the  enemy  manoeuvring  and  sailing  particu- 
larly well.  The  name  of  her  antagonist  is  not  known.  In 
this  affair,  the  Washington  received  some  damage  in  her 
spars,  but  met  with  no  serious  loss. 

Massachusetts  and  South  Carolina  were  the  two  states 
that  most  exerted  themselves,  in  order  to  equip  cruisers  of 
their  own.  As  early  as  September,  1776,  one  of  the  vessels 
of  the  former  is  said  to  have  captured  an  English  sloop  of 
war,  after  a  sharp  action;  but  we  can  discover  no  more 
than  general  and  vague  accounts  of  the  affair. 

Among  the  vessels  of  Massachusetts  was  one  named 
after  the  state  itself,  and  a  brig  called  the  Tyrannicide. 
The  latter  was  a  successful  cruiser,  and  made  many  Cap- 
tures, but  she  was  lost  in  the  unfortunate  affair  in  the  Pe- 
nobscott.  It  is  believed  that  the  Tyrannicide  was  built 
expressly  for  a  cruiser.  But  the  favourite  officer  of  this 
service  appears  to  have  been  Capt.  John  Foster  Williams, 
who  commanded  a  brig  called  the  Hazard,  in  1779.  In 
this  vessel,  in  addition  to  the  action  already  related  with  the 
Active,  Capt.   Williams  performed   many   handsome  ex- 


officers  on  its  regular  lists.  It  does  appear,  however,  that  the  United  States 
in  the  end  owned  the  Washington;  probably  through  some  subsequent 
arrangement  with  Pennsylvania;  she  being  sold-on  public  account. 

There  is  no  question  that  Capt.  Barney  ought  to  have  been  presented 
with  the  commission  of  a  captain  in  the  American  navy,  for  the  capture  of 
the  Monk;  and  it  is  probably  owing  to  the  state  of  the  war,  then  known  to 
be  so  near  a  close,  and  to  the  general  irreg^arities  of  the  service,  that  he 
was  not;  but  we  can  find  no  evidence  that  Congress  ever  acquitted  itself 
of  this  duty.  .-'■'.■  'v  ;« 


r 


;^/ 


;-!<!k.. 


240 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


^P' 


ploits,   proving  himself,  on  all  occasions,  an  officer  of 
merit. 

After  quitting  the  Hazard,  Capt.  Williams  was  transferred 
to  the  Protector  20,  equally  a  state  ship.  In  this  vessel  he 
had  the  two  actions  mentioned  in  another  chapter, — that 
with  the  Duff,  and  that  with  the  Thames, — in  both  of  which 
this  gallant  officer  greatly  distinguished  himself.  Soon  after 
this  brilliant  cruise  he  resumed  the  command  of  the  Hazard, 
which  was  also  lost  to  the  state  in  the  unfortunate  expedi- 
tion against  the  British  in  the  Penobscott.  It  would  proba- 
bly have  been  better  for  Massachusetts  had  it  named  this 
meritorious  officer  to  the  command  of  the  naval  armament 
on  that  occasion.  This  unhappy  affair  appears,  in  a  great 
degree,  to  have  put  an  end  to  the  maritime  efforts  of  Massa- 
chusetts, a  state,  however,  that  was  foremost  tu  the  last,  in 
aiding  the  general  cause. 

Of  the  vessels  of  Carolina  mention  has  already  been  made. 
In  the  early  part  of  the  war  several  light  cruisers  were  em- 
ployed, but  as  the  contest  advanced,  this  state  entertained  a 
plan  of  obtaining  a  few  vessels  of  force,  with  an  intention  of 
striking  a  heavier  blow  than  common  against  the  enemy. 
With  this  view.  Com.  Gillon,  the  officer  who  was  at  the 
head  of  its  little  marine,  went  to  Europe,  and  large  amounts 
of  colonial  produce  were  transmitted  to  him,  in  order  to 
raise  the  necessary  funds.  In  his  correspondence,  this  of- 
ficer complains  of  the  difficulty  of  procuring  the  right  sort 
of  ships,  and  much  time  was  lost  in  fruitless  negotiations  for 
that  purpose,  in  both  France  and  Holland.  At  length  an 
arrangement  was  entered  into,  for  a  single  vessel,  that  is  so 
singular  as  to  require  particular  notice. 
^  At  Amsterdam,  Com.  Gillon  finally  found  a  ship  that 
every  way  answered  his  purpose.  This  vessel  was  the 
Indien,  which  had  been  laid  down  by  the  American  com- 
missioners, and  subsequently  presented  to  France.  She  had 
the  dimensions  of  a  small  74,  but  was  a  frigate  in  construe- 


\\ 


•r 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


241 


Uon,  carrying,  however,  an  armament  that  consisted  of  28 
Swedish  thirty-sixes  on  her  gun-deck,  and  of  13  Swedish 
twelves  on  her  quarter-deck  and  forecastle,  or  40  guns  in 
the  whole.  This  ship,  though  strictly  the  property  of  France, 
had  been  lent  by  Louis  XVI.  to  the  Duke  of  Luxembourg; 
who  hired  her  to  the  State  of  South  Carolina  for  three 
years,  on  condition  that  the  state  would  insure  her,  sail  her 
at  its  own  expense,  and  render  to  her  owner  one-fourth  of 
the  proceeds  of  her  prizes.  Under  this  singular  compact,* 
the  ship,  which  was  named  the  South  Carolina  for  the  oc- 
casion, got  out  in  1781,  and  made  a  successful  cruise  in  the 
Narrow  Sea$!,  sending  her  prizes  into  Spain.  Afterwards 
she  sailed  for  America,  capturing  ten  sail,  with  which  she 
went  into  the  Havana.  Here,  Com.  Gillonj  with  a  view 
to  distress  the  enemy,  accepted  the  command  of  the  nauti- 
cal part  of  an  expedition,  that  had  been  set  on  foot  by  the 
Spaniards,  against  the  Bahamas,  and  in  which  other  Ame- 
rican cruisers  joined.  The  expedition  was  successful,  and 
the  ship  proceeded  to  Philadelphia.  Com.  Gillon  now  left 
her,  and  after  some  delay,  the  South  Carolina  went  to  sea,  in 
December,  1782,  under  the  orders  of  Capt.  Joyner,  an  officer 
who  had  previously  served  on  board  her  as  second  in  com- 
mand. It  is  probable  that  the  movements  of  so  important 
a  vessel  were  watched,  for  she  had  scarcelv  cleared  the 
capes,  when,  after  a  short  running  fight,  she  fell  into  the 
hands  of  the  British  ship  Diomede  44,  having  the  Astrea 
32,  and  the  Quebec  32,  in  company. 

The  South  Carolina  was  much  the  heaviest  ship  that  ever 
sailed  under  the  American  flag,  until  the  new  frigates  were 


■tA 


%  ' 


,*<  ■ 


w 


*  It  appears  to  be  generally  imagined  that  this  Duke  of  Luxembourg,  or 
Chevalier  de  Luxembourg  as  he  was  sometimes  called,  was  the  sover- 
eign prince  of  that  country,  but  we  suppose  him  to  have  been  a  French 
nobleman  of  the  well-known  family  of  Montmorency,  which  bears  this  title. 
Could  the  truth  be  come  at,  it  is  not  improbable  that  the  whole  aflTair  would 
be  discovered  to  have  been  an  indirect  species  of  princely  privateering. 

Vol.  I.— 21 


-;%' 


»<(,.- ii^-,A 


■>., 


242 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


'# 


*% 


constructed  during  the  war  of  1812,  and  she  is  described  as 
^  having  been  a  particularly  fast  vessel ;  but  her  service  ap- 
pears to  have  been  greatly  disproportioned  to  her  means. 
She  cost  the  state  a  large  sum  of  money,  and  is  believed  to 
have  returned  literally  nothing  to  its  treasury.  Her  loss 
excited  much  comment.  .  ?  •  "i;  ;  :.■'-,  -  ;>v  .  rv^>_  >,,; 
»  Admiral  Arbuthnot  reports  among  the  "rebel  ships  of 
war"  taken  or  sunk  at  the  capture  of  Charleston,  "  the  Bri- 
cole,  pierced  for  60,  mounting  44  guns,  twenty-four  and 
eighteen  pounders,"  &c.  As  there  never  was  a  vessel  of 
this  name  in  the  navy  of  the  United  States,  it  is  probable 
that  this  ship  was  another  heavy  frigate  obtained  by  the 
State  of  South  Carolina,  in  Europe.  Although  this  state 
had  the  means  to  equip  a  better  marine  than  common,  it  had 
neither  vessels,  building  yards,  nor  seamen  of  any  great 
moment.  Most  of  its  vessels  were  purchased,  and  its  seamen 
were  principally  obtained  from  places  out  of  its  limits.  Com. 
Gillon  and  Capt.  Joyner  being  both  natives  of  Holland. 

We  shall  now  briefly  allude  to  a  few  private  armed  crui- 
sers, and  close  the  narrative  of  the  naval  events  connected 
with  the  Revolution.  Of  the  general  history  of  this  part  of 
the  warfare  of  the  period,  the  reader  will  have  obtained 
some  idea  from  our  previous  accounts ;  but  it  may  be  well 
htfre,  to  give  a  short  but  more  connected  summary  of  its 
dutlines.  -    .  • 

-   The  first  proceedings  of  Congress  in  reference  to  assail- 
#*i  "        ing  the  British  commerce,  as  has  been  seen,  were  reserved 
and  cautious.    War  not  being  regularly  declared,  and  an 
;  accommodation  far  from   hopeless,  the  year   1775  was 

suffered  to  pass  away  without  granting  letters  of  marque 
and  reprisal;  for  it  was  the  interest  of  the  nation  to  pre- 
serve as  many  friends  in  England  as  possible.  As  the 
breach  widened,  this  forbearing  policy  was  abandoned,  and 
the  summer  of  1776  let  loose  the  nautical  enterprise  of  the 
country  upon  the  British  commerce.  The  effect  at  first  was 


^ 


f  -^• 


-.  i 


f 

1 

I 

\ 

1 

s 

I 

■  ■••>■■■  -' 

1 

f' 

s 

r^'' 

l^*^ 


KAVAL  HISTORY. 


vSk 


■•-•    i^ 


248 


astounding.  Never  before  had  England  found  an  enemy  so 
destructive  to  her  trade,  and,  during  the  two  first  years  of 
the  privateering  that  followed,  something  like  eight  hundred 
sail  of  merchantmen  were  captured;  After  this  period,  the 
efforts  of  the  Americans  necessarily  lessened,  while  the  pre- 
cautions  of  the  enemy  increased.  Still,  these  etiterprises 
proved  destructive  to  the  end  of  the  war ;  and  it  is  a  proof 
of  the  efficiency  of  this  class  of  cruisers  to  the  last,  that 
small  privateers  constantly  sailed  out  of  the  English  ports, 
with  a  view  to  make  money,  by  recapturing  their  own 
ressels ;  the  trade  of  America,  at  that  time,  offering  but  few 
inducements  to  such  undertakings.  •  t:   '  <    r^'  ^*'  i  ■  >-    .  .^ 

Among  the  vessels  employed  as  private  cruisers,  the 
Holker,  the  Black  Prince,  the  Pickering,  the  Wild  Cat, 
the  Vengeance,  the  Marlborough,  in  addition  to  those  else- 
where named,  were  very  conspicuous.  The  first  sailed 
under  different  commanders,  and  with  almost  uniform  suc- 
cess. The  Marlborough  is  said  to  have  made  twenty-eight 
prizes  in  one  cruise,  and  other  vessels  were  scarcely  less 
fortunate.  Many  sharp  actions  occurred,  and  quite  as  often 
to  the  advantage  of  these  cruisers  as  to  that  of  their  enemy. 
In  repeated  instances  they  escaped  from  British  ships  of 
war,  under  unfavourable  circumstances,  and  there  is  no 
question,  that  in  a  few  cases,  they  captured  them. 

To  this  list  ought  also  to  be  added  the  letters  of  marque, 
which,  in  many  cases,  did  great  credit  to  themselves 
and  the  country.  Capt.  Murray,  since  so  well  known  to 
the  service,  made  one  of  the  most  desperate  defences  on 
record,  in  one  of  these  vessels,  near  the  close  of  the  war ; 
and  Capt.  Truxtun,  whose  name  now  occupies  so  high  a 
station  among  those  of  the  naval  captains  of  the  republic, 
made'  another,  in  the  St.  James,  while  conveying  an  Ame- 
rican agent  to  France,  which  was  so  highly  appreciated 
that  it  probably  opened  the  way  to  the  rank  that  he  subse- 
quently filled. 


,/,;:,3&' 


*r 


244 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


The  English  West-India  trade,  in  particular,  sufTered 
largely  by  the  private  warfare  of  the  day.  Two  and  fifty 
sail,  engaged  in  this  branch  of  commerce,  are  stated  to 
have  been  taken  as  early  as  February,  1777.  The  whole 
number  of  captures  made  by  the  Americans  in  this  contest, 
is  not  probably  known,  but  six  hundred  and  fifty  prizes  are 
said  to  have  been  got  into  port.  Many  of  the  remainder 
were  ransomed,  and  some  were  destroyed  at  sea.  There 
can  be  no  minute  accuracy  in  these  statements,  but  the  in- 
jury done  the  commerce  of  Great  Britain  was  enormous ; 
and  there  is  no  doubt  that  the  constant  hazards  it  run,  had 
a  direct  influence  in  obtaining  the  acknowledgment  of  the 
independence  of  the  United  States  of  America,  which  great 
event  took  place  on  the  20th  of  January,  1783. 
i  Thus  terminated  the  first  war  in  which  America  was  en- 
gaged as  a  separate  nation,  after  a  struggle  that  had  endured 
seven  years  and  ten  months.  Orders  of  recall  were  imme- 
diately given  to  the  different  cruisers,  and  the  commissions 
of  all  privateers  and  letters  of  marque  were  revoked.  The 
proclamation  announcing  a  cessation  of  hostilities,  and  that 
the  country  was  in  a  state  of  peace,  was  made  on  the  11th 
of  April,  when  the  war  finally  terminated  at  all  points. 


\\ 


^' 


o- 


'/  •  ■ 


'6     S 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


245 


\ 


i« 


'  .   *.'   -'    "  r  .-,■".*'> 


t..  '..-.< 


":    I.V'ip 


CHAPTER  XIII. 


ft 


-r 


w 


Before  we  proceed  to  give  an  account  of  the  state  in 
virliich  the  war  left  the  American  marine,  a  brief  review  of 
its  general  condition,  throughout,  and  at  the  close  of  the 
struggle,  may  be  found  useful. 

When  the  law  of  1775  was  passed,  directing  the  con- 
struction of  the  first  frigates,  for  the  twenty-eights  and 
twenty-fours  are  included  in  this  class,  different  building 
stations  were  selected,  at  points  thought  to  be  least  exposed 
to  the  enemy.  The  vessel  that  was  laid  down  in  New 
Hampshire,  was  said  to  have  been  put  into  the  water  in 
sixty  days  from  the  time  the  work  commenced.  But  all 
this  activity  was  of  little  avail,  the  want  of  gun's,  anchors, 
rigging,  or  some  material  article,  interfering  with  the  rapid 
equipment  of  nearly  every  one  of  the  thirteen  ships. 

The  vessel  just  mentioned  was  the  Raleigh,  and  her 
career  can  be  traced  in  our  previous  pages. 

The  two  ships  constructed  in  Massachusetts,  the  Hancock 
and  Boston,  got  to  sea;  for  this  part  of  the  country  was  little 
annoyed  by  the  enemy  after  the  evacuation  of  Boston ;  and 
their  fortunes  are  also  to  be  found  in  our  pages. 

The  Rhode  Island  ships  were  the  Warren  and  Providence. 
These  vessels  are  described  as  having  been  the  most  indif- 
ferent of  the  thirteen.  They  were  launched  in  1776,  and 
their  services  and  fates  have  been  given. 

The  Montgomery  and  Congress  were  the  vessels  ordered 
to  be  built  in  New  York.    These  ships,  it  is  believed,  were 

21* 


^:* 


'Pi<* 


• 


d46 


NAVAL  HISTORr. 


.<Mb 


■#^ 


constructed  at,  or  near,  Poughkeepsie,  on  the  Hudson,  and 
did  not  get  to  sea,  as  the  British  held  the  mouth  of  the  river 
from  August  1776  to  November  1783.  They  were  burned 
in  1777,  in  order  to  prevent  them  from  falling  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy,  when  Sir  Henry  Clinton  took  the  forts  in  the 
highlands. 

The  name  of  the  Maryland  ship  was  the  Virginia,  and  her 
hard  fortune  has  been  recorded  in  the  course  of  the  events 
of  the  year  1778. 

Pennsylvania  had  the  four  remaining  vessels,  the  Ran- 
dolph, the  Washington,  the  Delaware,  and  the  Effingham. 
Of  the  first  it  is  unnecessary  to  say  any  thing,  as  her  fate  is 
identified  with  the  glory  of  the  service.  If  the  Delaware 
ever  got  to  sea,  we  find  no  traces  of  her  movements.  She 
was  equipped  certainly,  and  most  probably  blockaded,  fall- 
ing into  the  hands  of  the  enemy  when  they  got  possession 
of  Philadelphia.  The  other  two  were  burned  in  Capt. 
Henry's  expedition  up  the  river,  in  1778,  as  has  been  related. 

Thus  of  the  thirteen  vessels  from  which  so  much  was  ex- 
pected, but  six  got  to  sea  at  all,  in  the  service  in  which 
they  were  built.  To  these  were  added,  in  the  course  of  the 
war,  a  few  other  frigates,  some  permanently,  and  some  only 
for  single  cruises.  Of  the  former  class  were  the  Deane, 
(Hague,)  Alliance,  Confederacy,  and  Queen  of  France.  It 
is  believed  that  these  four  ships,  added  to  the  thirteen  or- 
dered by  the  law  of  1775,  and  the  Alfred  and  Columbus, 
will  comprise  all  the  frigate-built  vessels  that  properly  be- 
longed to  the  marine  of  the  country,  during  the  war  of  the 
Revolution.  The  French  vessels  that  composed  most  of  the 
squadron  of  Paul  Jones  were  lent  for  the  occasion,  and  we 
hear  no  more  of  the  Pallas  after  the  cruise  had  ended.  She 
reverted  to  her  original  owners.         ■  .  >  ' 

Of  the  sloops  of  war  and  smaller  vessels  it  is  now  difli- 
cult  to  give  a  complete  and  authentic  account.  Several 
were  employed  by  the  commissioners  in  France,  which  it 


■:Jt:-Jr». 


k^  ♦ 


ITAVAL  HISTORY. 


247 


is  impossible  to  trace.  Congress  occasionally  borrowed 
vessels  of  the  states,  and  generally  with  their  officers  and 
crews  on  board.  Of  this  class  of  vessels  was  the  General 
Washington,  (late  General  Monk,)  which  unquestionably 
belonged  to  the  state  of  Pennsylvania,  when  first  equipped, 
though  she  appears  to  have  been  subsequently  transferred  to 
the  General  Government,  by  which  she  was  employed  as  a 
packet,  as  late  as  the  year  1784,  when  she  was  sold  on  public 
account. 

Under  such  circumstances,  and  with  the  defective  mate* 
rials  that  are  now  to  be  obtained,  the  difficulty  uf  making  a 
perfect  list  of  the  vessels  that  were  in  the  navy  during  the 
war  of  the  Revolution  is  fully  felt,  and  yet,  without  some 
such  record,  this  book  will  have  an  air  of  incompletenes. 
One,  that  has  been  corrected  with  care,  is  accordingly 
given,  and  as  nothing  is  admitted  into  it,  without  authority, 
it  is  believed  to  be  correct  as  far  as  it  goes;  its  defects 
being  those  of  omission,  rather  than  positive  errors.  An- 
nexed to  the  name  of  each  vessel  is  her  fate,  as  an  Ameri- 
can  cruiser,  so  far  as  the  facts  can  be  ascertained. 

List  of  vessels  of  war,  in  the  American  navy  between  the 
years  1775,  and  1783. 
Alliance  32,  sold  after  the  peace  and  converted  into  an  In- 

diaman.*  -        .  '       • 

Deane  (Hague)  32.  >  . 

Virginia  28,  taken  by  a  British  squadron  near  the  capes 

of  the  Chesapeake,  before  getting  to  sea,  1778. 
Confederacy  32,  taken  by  a  ship  of  the  line,  off  the  capes  of 

Virginia,  June  22d,  1781. 
Hancock  32,  taken  in  1777,  by  Rainbow  40,  and  Victor  16. 

Flora  32,  retook  her  prize. 
Randolph  32,  blown  up  in  action  with  the  Yarmouth  64,  in 

1778.    ■       .      . 


v., 


it' 


«.:5 


*  Her  wreck  still  lies  on  the  island  opposite  to  Philadelphia! 


:v'"-i-j«t'  '■   * 


^'■ 


948 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


i  r 


Raleigh  32,  taken  by  the  Experiment  50,  and  Unicorn  23, 
1778.  ;..■.":»!.    :    ■'     .  .,.,v  ; 

Washington  32,  destroyed  in  the  Delaware  by  the  British 
army,'  1778,  without  getting  to  sea.  ,.    •  ^  ,. 

Warren  32,  burned  in  the  Penobscott  in  1779,  to  prevent  her 
falling  into  the  enemy's  hands. 

Queen  of  France  28,  captured  at  Charleston  in  1780.  .  -    . 

Providence  28,  do,  do.  do. 

Trumbull  28,  taken  by  the  Iris  32,  and  General  Monk  18, 
1781. 

Effingham  28,  burned  by  the  enemy  in  the  Delaware,  1778, 
without  getting  to  sea. 

Congress  28,  destroyed  in  the  Hudson,  1777,  to  prevent  her 
falling  into  the  enemy's  hands,  without  getting  to  sea. 

Alfred  24,  captured  by  the  Ariadne  and  Ceres,  in  1778. 

Columbus  20. 

Delaware  24,  captured  by  the  British  army  in  the  Dela- 
ware, in  1777. 

Boston  24,  captured  at  Charleston,  in  1780. 

Montgomery  24,  destroyed  in  the  Hudson,  without  getting 
to  sea,  1777. 

Hamden  14. 

Reprisal  16,  foundered  at  sea,  1778. 

Lexington  14,  taken  by  the  British  cutter  Alert,  in  the  chan- 
nel, 1778. 

Andrea  Doria  14,  burned  in  the  Delaware,  1777,  to  prevent 
her  falling  into  the  enemy's  hands. 

Cabot  16,  driven  ashore  by  the  Milford  32,  in  1777,  and 
abandoned. 

Ranger  18,  captured  at  Charleston  by  the  British  army, 
1780.  4s 

Saratoga  16,  lost  at  sea  in  1780;  never  heard  of. 

Diligent  14,  burned  in  the  Penobscott,  1778. 

Gates  14. 

Hornet  10. 


I  \ 


I 


•# 

1-fA; 

W 

'm 

m 


-A- 


t 


I 


ll 


ITAVAL  HISTORY. 


340 


Surprise  10,  aoized  by  the  French  government,  in  1777, 
Revenge  10,  sold  in  1780. 

Providence  12,  taken  in  .the  Penobscott  in  1779.       ^   .<w'    ' 
Sachem  10^   Supposed  to  have  been  destroyed  in  the 

Wasp  8  I   Delaware  by  the  enemy,  or  by  the 

Independence  10  [  Americans,  io  prevent  their  falling  into 
Dolphin  loj   the  enemy's  hands. 

To  these  vessels  must  be  added  the  following  ships,  which 
appear  to  have  made  one  or  more  cruises  under  the  Ameri- 
can flag,  commanded  by  American  officers,  and  manned,  in 
part,  by  American  seamen. 
Bon  Humme  Richard  40,  sunk  after  her  action  with  the 

Serapis44,  in  1779. 
Pallas  32,  left  the  service  when  the  cruise  was  ended. 

Vengeance  12,        do.  do.  do. 

Cerf  18,  do.  do.  do. 

Ariel  20,  borrowed  by  the  commissioners  from  the  king  of 
France,  and  supposed  to  have  been  returned. 

These  lists  contain  nearly,  if  not  quite  all  the  vessels  of 
any  size  that  properly  belonged  to  the  navy  of  the  Ameri- 
can Confederation.  There  were  several  more  small  cruisers, 
mounting  from  4  to  10  guns,  but  their  service  appears  to 
have  been  as  uncertain  as  their  fates,  though,  like  the  priva- 
teers, most  of  them,  it  is  believed,  fell  into  the  hands  of  their 
powerful  and  numerous  foes.  Several  ships,  also,  appear 
to  have  belonged  to  the  government,  such  as  the  Due  de 
Lauzun,  the  Luzerne,  Washington,  &c.,  that  we  do  not 
think  entitled  to  be  classed  among  its  regular  cruisers. 

Most  of  the  popular  accounts  make  the  America  74,  the 
first  two-decked  ship  ever  built  within  the  limits  of  the 
United  States.  That  this  is  an  error,  has  already  been 
shown,  in  one  of  our  earlier  pages,  and  there  is  reason  to 
suppose  that  the  English  caused  several  small  vessels  on 
two  decks  to  be  constructed  in  the  American  colonies,  pre- 
viously to  the  war  of  the  Revolution.    It  would  have  been 


i 


-y 


15 


'x^-i 


if- 


i 


''?- 


250 


i   f 


KAVAL  HISTORY. 


more  accurate  to  have  stated  that  the  America  was  the 
heaviest  ship  that  had  been  laid  down  in  the  country,  at  the 
time  she  was  built.  This  vessel  .was  captured  from  the 
French,  by  the  British,  in  the  engagement  of  the  1st  of  June.* 
The  management  of  the  little  navy  that  the  United  States 
possessed  during  this  long  and  important  struggle,  was  ne- 
cessarily much  controlled  by  circumstances.  When  the 
conflict  commenced,  it.could  scarcely  be  termed  a  war,  and 
the  country  hardly  possessed  an  organized  government  at 
all.  It  had  been  the  policy  of  England  to  keep  her  colonies 
as  dependent  as  possible  on  herself  for  all  manufactured 
articles;  and  when  the  Revolution  broke  out,  the  new 
states  were  almost  destitute  of  the  means  of  carrying  on  a 
war.  Much  as  has  been  said  and  written  on  this  subject, 
the  world  scarcely  seems  to  possess  an  accurate  notion  of 
the  embarrassments  to  which  the  Americans  were  subjected 
in  consequence  of  deficiencies  of  this  nature.  The  first 
important  relief  was  obtained  through  the  cruisers,  and  it  is 
scarcely  saying  too  much  to  add,  that,  without  the  succours 
that  were  procured  in  this  manner,  during  the  years  1775 


1 1 


^•<'  #- 


*  We  give  the  following  outline  of  the  description  of  the  America,  as 
left  by  Paul  Jones,  to  show  what  were  then  deemed  peculiarities  in  the 
construction  of  a  ship  of  the  line.  The  upper  deck  bulw.'u-ks  are  partic- 
ularly described  as  "  breast  works  pierced  for  guns,"  and  he  adds,  that 
all  the  quarter  deck  and  forecastle  g^ns  could  be  fought,  at  need,  on  one 
aide;  from  which  it  is  to  be  inferred  that  the  ship  had  ports  in  her  waist. 
The  poop  had  a  "folding  breast-work,"  grape>shot  proof,  or  bulwarks  that 
were  lowered  and  hoisted  in  a  minute.  The  quarter-deck  ran  four  feet 
forward  of  the  main-mast,  and  the  forecastle  came  well  aft.  The  gang- 
ways were  wide,  and  on  the  kvel  of  the  quarter-deck  and  foreeastle.  The 
ship  had  only  single  quarter  galleries,  and  no  stem  gtiltry.  She  had  50 
feet  6  inches  beam,  over  all,  and  her  inboard  leng^,  on  the  upper  gun- 
deck,  was  183  feet  6  inches.  "  Yet  this  ship,  though  the  largett  of  seventy- 
fours  in  the  world,  had,  when  the  lower  battery  was  sunk,  the  air  of  a  deli- 
cate frigate;  and  no  person,  at  the  distance  of  a  mile,  could  have  imagined 
she  had  a  second  battery."  Unfortunately  her  intended  armament  is  not 
given. 


\ 


-a* 


'     M 


*'.. 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


2&1 


w 


VV' 


and  1770,  the  Revolution  must  have  been  checked  in  the 
outset.* 

In  addition  to  the  direct  benefits  conferred  by  the  cap- 
tures, the  marine  was  of  incalculable  advantage  in  bringing 
Europe  in  contact  with  America,  by  showing  the  flag  and 
ships  of  the  new  country  in  the  old  world.  Notwithstand- 
ing  the  many  obstacles  that  were  to  be  overcome,  the  high 
maritime  spirit  of  the  nation  broke  through  all  restraints; 
and,  in  defiance  of  an  enemy  that  almost  possessed  ubiqui- 
ty,  as  well  as  an  overwhelminr  power,  the  conflict  between 
Britain  and  her  despised  anu  oppressed  colonies  had  not 
continued  a  twelve-month,  when  the  coasts  of  the  former 
country  were  harassed  and  agitated  by  the  audacity  and 
enterprise  of  the  American  cruisers.  Insurant  >  rose  to  a 
height  hitherto  unknown,  and  for  the  first  tii  j  in  her  his- 
tory, England  felt  the  effects  which  »  people  thorouhly 
imbued  with  a  love  of  maritime  adventuie,  could  produce 
on  a  nation  so  commercial. 

The  activity  and  merit  of  the  brave  men  who  first  car- 
ried the  war  into  the  enemy's  seas,  have  not  been  fully  ap- 
preciated by  the  present  age.  Foremost  ought  to  be  placed 
the  name  of  Wickes,  who  led  the  way,  and  who  appears  to 
have  performed  the  duty  confided  t9  him,  with  discretion, 

'^  The  following  anecdote  rests  on  the  authority  of  the  secretary  of  the 
marine  committee  of  Congress,  the  body  that  discharged  the  duties  that 
are  now  performed  by  the  navj.  " :  r-»rtment.  The  committee  was  in  se- 
cret session,  deliberating  on  thv-  ^  auns  of  obtaining  certain  small  articles 
that  were  indispensable  to  the  equipment  of  vessels  of  war,  but  which 
articles  were  not  to  be  had  ia  the  country,  when  a  clamour  for  admit- 
tance at  the  door,  interrupted  the  proceedings.  Admittance  was  denied, 
but  the  intruder  insisted  on  entering.  The  door  was  finally  opened,  when 
a  gentleman  appeared,  with  an  inventory  of  the  stores  found  in  the  Nancy, 
the  first  V  .'ssel  taken  by  Capt.  Manly,  and  among  which  were  the  very 
articles  wanted.  Mr.  Adams,  when  the  fact  was  ascertained,  arose  and 
said  with  earnestness: — "We  must  succeed — Providence  is  with  us — we 
must  succeed!"  %*> 

,-,    ^^i^    ■'-■:■ 


^1    , 


**M*««P» 


^ 


i-V,< 


» 


'?,..• 


li. 


X*»-' 


4 


'Wi; 


252 


'-'?w 


•v 


NAVAL  HISTOllf.; 


'r 


spirit  and  steadiness.  The  untimely  fate  of  this  gallant  offi- 
cer, who  had  obtained  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the 
American  commissioners,  probably  was  the  reason  that  he 
docs  not  occupy  as  much  of  the  public  mind  as  his  services 
merit.  m  ,  -..i^-'y:; 

Capt.  Conyngham,  also,  to  his  other  claims,  adds  that  of 
suffering.  He  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  after  his 
return  to  the  American  seas,  while  cruising  in  a  small  pri- 
vate  armed  vessel,  and  was  sent  to  England  in  irons,  with 
a  threat  to  treat  him  as  a  pirate.  His  imprisonment  was 
long  and  severe ;  nor  was  his  liberty  obtained,  until  monthtv* 
of  bitter  privation  had  been  passed  in  a  gaol.  ^^   ■'^' ' 

The  naval  names  that  have  descended  to  us,  from  this 
war,  with  the  greatest  reputation,  are  those  of  Jones,  Bar- 
ry, Barney,  Biddlc,  Manly,  Nicholson,  Wickes,  Rathburne, 
Conyngham,  and  Hacker.  To  these  may  be  added  that 
of  Williams,  who  was  in  the  service  of  Massachusetts. 
Other  officers  greatly  distinguished  themselves,  either  in 
subordinate  situations  on  board  vessels  of  war,  or  on 
board  the  other  cruisers.  Many  of  the  latter  subsequently 
rose  to  high  stations  in  the  national  marine,  and  we  shall 
have  occasion  to  allude  to  their  conduct  in  our  subsequent 
pages.  ^  '  ' 

The  nature  of  the  warfare,  unquestionably  trammelled 
the  national  efforts  in  this  contest.    The  circumstance  that  -^^ 
only  six  out  of  thirteen  new  cruisers  that  were  laid  down 
under  the  law  of  Oct.  1775,  ever  got  to  sea,  shows  theTdif- 
ficulties  with  which  the  country  had  to  contend  on  account 
of  so  many  of  its  ports  having  been  occupied  by  invading 
armies,  of  a  force  and  discipline  that  no  power  of  the  young 
republic  could  then  withstand.    No  less  than  six  of  these 
vessels  fell  into  the  enemy's  hands,  by  means  of  their  lan4^~ 
forces,  or  were  destroyed  by  the  Americans  themselves^  Ij^"^" 
prevent  such  a  result.    In  New  York,  the  British  held  the 
port,  of  all  others,  which  would  have  been  of  the  greatest 


'V 


%^ 


■■^■i 


*,-' 
>'\* 


fi,? 


-* 


\\ 


■  '>'l*ii 


^. 


^- 


.^" 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


'.it. 


253 


service  to  the  country,  in  a  naval  war,  as  its  central  posi- 
tion, many  natural  advantages,  difficulty  of  being  blockaded 
on  account  of  a  double  outlet,  and  resources,  will  always 
render  it  the  centre  of  maritime  operations,  iiok  every  strug- 
gle for  the  command  of  the  American  seas. 

But  the  greatest  obstacles  with  which  the  young  marine 
had  to  contend,  were  a  total  absence  of  system,  a  looseness 
of  discipline,  and  a  want  of  vessels  of  force.  The  irregulari- 
ties of  the  service,  it  is  true,  grew  out  of  the  exigencies  of 
the  times,  but  their  evi's  were  incalculable.  Hank,  that  great 
source  of  contention  in  all  services  in  which  it  is  not  clear- 
ly defined  and  rigidly  regulated,  appears  to  have  created 
endless  heart-burnings.  The  dissensions  of  the  officers,  na- 
turally communicated  themselves  to  the  men  ;  and,  in  time, 
this  difficulty  was  added  to  the  others  which  existed  in  ob- 
taining crews.  It  is  a  singular  fact,  that,  with  the  excep- 
tion perhaps  of  that  favourite  ship  the  Alliance,  we  can- 
not find  that  any  frigate-built  vessel  left  the  country,  after 
the  first  year  or  two  of  the  war,  with  a  full  crew  on  board 
of  her ;  and  even  those  with  which  they  did  sail,  were  either 
composed,  in  a  good  measure,  of  landsmen,  or  the  officers 
had  been  compelled  to  resort  to  the  dangerous  expedient 
of  seeking  for  volunteers  among  the  prisoners.  We  have 
seen  that  the  Alliance  herself,  with  her  precious  freight, 
was  near  being  the  sacrifice  of  this  ill-judged,  not  to  say 
unjust  policy.  The  Trumbull,  when  taken,  was  fought  prin- 
cipally by  her  officers;  and,  at  the  very  moment  when  con- 
fidence was  of  the  last  importance  to  success,  the  vessels  of 
Paul  Jones's  squadron  appear  to  have  distrusted  each  other, 
and  to  have  acted  with  the  uncertainty  of  such  a  feeling. 

To  the  lightness  of  the  metal  used  during  this  war,  is  to 
be  ascribed  the  duration  of  the  combats.  Ii  has  been  seen, 
that  the  Pon  Homme  Richard  had  a  few  elghteen-pounders 
mounted  in  her  gun  room;  and  there  are  occasional  allu- 
sions in  the  accounts  of  the  day,  that  would  induce  us  to 

Vol.  I.— 22 


*  '1 


\  , 


>? 


l--\ 


m 


254 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


4 


W 


'■\\- 


believe  that  some  of  the  larger  vessels  built  for  the  service, 
had  a  few  guns  of  this  calibre*  mixed  in  with  their  more 
regular  armaments;  but,  strictly  speaking,  there  was  not  a 
ship  in  the  American  navy,  during  the  whole  war  of  the 
Revolution,  that  was  properly  any  thing  more  than  a 
twelve-pounder  frigate.  The  America  74,  would  have 
been  an  exception,  of  course,  could  she  properly  be  said 
to  have  belonged  to  the  service,  but  she  was  transferred 
to  France  previously  to  being  put  into  the  water.  The  Bon 
Homme  Richard  had  the  dimensions  of,  and  was  pierced 
for  a  thirty-eight,  but  her  regular  and  only  efficient  batte- 
ries, were  composed  of  twelves  and  nines.  The  Indien,  or 
South  Carolina,  as  she  was  subsequently  called,  was  pro- 
bably as  heavy  a  frigate  as  then  floated,  but  she  sailed  in 
the  service  of  the  single  state  of  South  Carolina,  and  never 
belonged  to  the  marine  of  the  country. 

No  correct  estimate  can  be  ever  made  of  the  merits 
of  the  gallant  seamen,  whose  acts  have  been  recorded 
in  these  pages,  without  keeping  in  constant  view,  all  the 
disadvantages  under  which  they  served.  With  vessels, 
quite  often  imperfectly  equipped;  frequently  with  such  guns, 
ammunition  and  stores,  as  are  known  to  be  disposed  of  to 
nations,  the  necessities  of  which  supersede  caution;  with 
crews  badly,  often  dangerously  composed,  and  without  the 
encouragement  that  power  can  proffer  to  success,  these 
faithful  men  went  forth  upon  an  ocean  that  was  cover- 
ed with  the  cruisers  of  their  enemy,  to  contend  with 
foes  every  way  prepared  for  war,  who  were  incited  by  all 
tl  It  can  awaken  ambition,  and  who  met  them  with  the 
confidence  that  is  the  inseparable  companion  of  habit  and 
a  consciousness  of  force.  ^ 

While  pointing  out  the  claims  of  the  seamen  of  the  Revo- 
lution to  that  honourable  place  in  history  which  it  is  our  aim 
to  contribute  in  securing  to  them,  there  is  another  corps, 
one  that  has  so  long  been  associated  with  navies  as  to  be 


1*: 


Jifi. 


y-^^^' 


1^ 


*^#fe 


% 


i 
%. 


f 


^4 


,..;■:, 


ITAVAL  HISTORY. 


255 


•!>i 


*■ 


t 


H 


'm4 

W 

f-hi^ 


f! 


1 


'i' : 


*:..   -V 


i^>. 


*► 


almost  necessarily  included  in  their  renown,  which  is  entitled 
,  to  a  distinct  notice  in  our  pages.  It  is  so  mu^h  a  matter  of 
course,  to  identify  the  marines  with  the  ship  in  which  they 
serve,  that  we  have  not  hitherto  thought  it  necessary  to 
digress  from  the  course  of  events  to  speak  particularly  of 
this  body  of  men.  The  corps,  however,  is  so  necessary  to 
the  military  character  of  every  service,  has  ever  been  so  ef- 
ficent  and  useful,  not  only  in  carrying  on  the  regular  routine 
of  duty,  but  in  face  of  the  enemy,  and  was  so  all-important 
to  the  security  of  the  ships,  during  the  period  of  -  hich  we 
#huve  been  writing,  that  we  have  reserved  a  place  for  a 
brief  account  of  its  organization  in  this  chapter.  In  order 
that  the  general  reader  may  more  clearly  comprehend  this 
branch  of  the  subject,  however,  and  obtain  a  better  idea  of 
the  composition  of  the  crew  of  a  vessel  of  war,  a  paragraph 
will  be  devoted  to  a  few  explanations. 

The  men  of  a  public  armed  ship  are  divided  into  two 
distinct  bodies ;  the  portion  of  the  people  that  do  the  ordi- 
nary duty  of  the  vessel,  which  includes  the  petty  officers, 
seamen,  ordinary  seanlen,  landsmen  and  boys,  and  the  ma- 
rines. The  former  pass  under  the  general  name  of  sailors, 
while  the  latter  are  always  known  by  their  own  distinctive 
appellation.  The  marines  are  strictly  infantry  soldiers,  who 
are  trained  to  serve  afloat ;  and  their  discipline,  equipments, 
spirit,  character,  and  esprit  de  corps,  are  altogether  those 
of  an  army.  The  marines  impart  to  a  ship  of  war,  in  a 
great  degree,  its  high  military  character.  They  furnish  all 
the  guards  and  sentinels ;  in  battle  they  repel,  or  cover  the 
assaults  of  boarders ;  and,  at  all  times,  they  sustain  and 
protect  the  stern  and  necessary  discipline  of  a  ship  by  their 
organization,  distinctive  charac^/)r,  training,  and  we  might 
add,  nature.  It  is  usual  to  place  one  of  these  soldiers  on 
board  a  ship  of  war  for  each  gun,  though  the  rule  is  not 
absolute.    It  is  not,  however,  to  be  understood  by  this,  that 


'■A 


•>,*. 


-S- 


:.^. 


Hsi.. 


356 


KAVAL  HISTORr. 


't 


the  marines  arc  regularly  dispersed  in  the  ship,  by  placing; 
them  at  the  guns,  as,  unless  in  cases  that  form  exceptions, 
they  act  together,  under  their  own  officers,  using  the  mus- 
ket and  bayonet  as  their  proper  weapons.  t  v'.  '4,*^:^' 
Aware  of  the  importance  of  such  a  Iwdy  of  men,  on  the 
yth  of  November,  1775,  or  before  any  regular  cruiser  had 
yet  got  to  sea.  Congress  passed  a  law  establishing  a  marine 
corps.    By  this  law,  the  corps  was  to  consist  of  two  battal- 
ions of  the  usual  size,  and  to  be  commanded  by  a  colonel. 
A  resolution  passed  on  the  30th  of  the  same  month,  directing 
that  these  two  battalions  should  not  be  drafted  from  the 
army  before  Boston,  but  regularly  enlisted  for  the  war.    It 
does  not  appear  that  this  law  was  ever  carried  into  com- 
plete effect;  the  great  difficulty  which  existed  in  obtaining 
men  for  the  arn)y,  no  less  than  the  impracticability  of  getting 
so  many  of  the  vessels  to  sea,  most  probably  contributing 
to  defeat  its  objects.     On  the  25th  of  June,  1776,  notwith- 
standing, the  corps  received  something  like  the  contemplated 
organization,  and  officers  were  appointed  to  serve  in  it. 
That  there  were  marines  in  the  squadron  of  Com.  Hopkins, 
is  known  from  the  fact  of  their  having  been  landed  at  New 
Providence,  where  they  were  the  assailing  force ;  but  even 
the  greater  portion  of  the  sea-officers,  employed  on  that 
occasion,  had  merely  letters  of  appointment,  and,  it  is  to  be 
presumed,  that  such  was  also  the  case  with  the  gentlemen 
of  this  arm.    We  give  the  following  list  of  the  officers  of 
the  marine  corps,  who  were  appointed  in  June,  1775,  as 
containing  the  names  of  those  who  properly  formed   the 
nucleus  of  this  important  and  respectable  part  of  the  navy» 
!^^;  Officers  of  Marines  appointed  June  25th,  1775. 

Samuel  Nichols,  Major. 

Andrew  Porter,  Captain.       , 

Joseph  Hardy,       do. 

Samuel  Shaw,       do.       •  -  ' -^ 

Benj.  Deane,  do. 


\ 


H-A 


i* 


,/ 


^ 


■Vi, 


4 


'm- 


/ 


-*< 


■'t 


.i-f. 


KAVAL  HISTORY. 


357 


Robert  Mullin,  Captain. 

John  Stewart,       do. 

Daniel  Henderson,  First  Lieutenant. 


.^i 


4. 


W' 


David  Love, 

do. 

Franklin  Read, 

do. 

Peregrine  Brown, 

do. 

Thomas  Barnell, 

do. 

James  McClure,      Second  Lieutenant. 

William  Gilmore, 

doi  • 

Abel  Morgan, 

' '  •  uO» 

Hugh  Montgomery, 

do.    ' 

Richard  Harrison, 

do. 

Other  nominations  followed,  from  time  to  time,  though  it 
is  believed  that  in  many  cases,  officers  commanding  ships, 
•were  empowered  to  give  letters  of  appointment.  In  short, 
the  irregularity  and  want  of  system  that  prevailed  in  the 
navy  generally,  extended  in  a  degree  to  a  branch  of  it  that 
is  usually  so  trained,  so  methodical  and  certain.         '        t 

At  no  period  of  the  naval  history  of  the  world,  is  it  proba- 
ble that  marines  were  more  important  than  during  the  war 
of  the  Revolution.  In  many  instances  they  preserved  the 
vessels  to  the  country,  by  suppressing  the  turbulence  of 
their  ill  assorted  crews,  and  the  effect  of  their  fire,  not  only 
then,  but  in  all  the  subsequent  conflicts,  under  those  cir- 
cumstances in  which  it  could  be  resorted  to,  has  usually 
been  singularly  creditable  to  their  steadiness  and  disci- 
pline. The  history  of  the  navy,  even  at  that  early  day,  as 
well  as  in  these  latter  times,  abounds  with  instances  of  the 
gallantry  and  self  devotion  of  this  body  of  soldiers,  and  we 
should  be  unfaithful  to  our  trust,  were  we  not  to  add,  that 
it  also  furnishes  too  many  proofs  of  the  forgetfulness  of  its 
merits  by  the  country.  The  marine  incurs  the  same  risks 
from  disease  and  tempests,  undergoes  the  same  privations, 
suffers  the  same  hardships,  and  sheds  his  blood  in  the  same 
battles  as  the  seaman,  and  society  owes  him  the  same  re- 

22* 


''•,!0- 


.V' 


■**•« 


m^ 


258 


vU 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


fr  '* 

t     i^^ 


' 


;'^; 


wards.  While  on  ship-board,  necessity  renders  him  in  a 
certain  sense,  the  subordinate,  but  nations  ought  never  to 
overlook  the  important  moral  and  political  truth,  that  the 
highest  lessons  they  can  teach  arc  those  of  justice ;  and  no 
servant  of  the  public  should  pass  a  youth  of  toil  and  danger, 
without  the  consciousness  of  possessing  a  tenour  to  a  cer- 
tain and  honourable  reward,  that  is  dependent  only  on  him- 
self. That  this  reward  has  hitherto  been  as  unwisely  as  it 
has  been  unfairly  withheld,  from  all  connected  with  the 
navy,  it  is  our  duty  ac  iiistorians  to  state,  and  in  no  instance 
has  this  justice  been  more  signally  denied,  than  in  the  case 
of  the  honourable  and  gallant  corps  of  which  we  are  par- 
ticularly writing. 

Before  the  thread  of  the  historical  incidents  is  resumed, 
it  is  proper  that  we  allude  to  one  other  branch  of  our  sub- 
ject. There  may  be  sufficient  interest  connected  with  the 
first  vessel  of  war  th?*  ever  carried  the  American  flag  on 
the  ocean,  to  render  it  important  that  no  error  be  committed 
in  registering  her  name.  On  this  point  it  is,  perhaps,  too 
late  to  pretend  to  entire  accuracy,  for  three  reasons;  the 
want  of  documents,  the  conflicting  testimony,  and  the  cir- 
cumstance that  the  journals  of  the  day  abstained  from 
alluding  to  movements  that  required  secrecy  to  insure  suc- 
cess. The  first  notice  that  is  taken  of  the  squadron  of 
Com.  Hopkins,  in  the  papers  of  the  town  from  which  it 
sailed,  was  to  record  its  return  to  port.  It  has  been  said 
that  the  Lexington  i4,  was  the  cruiser  entitled  to  the  honour 
just  mentioned,  but  it  has  been  admitted,  at  the  same  time, 
that  the  claim  in  behalf  of  this  little  brig,  is  met  by  one  jn 
favour  of  all  the  vessels  of  the  squadron  of  Mr.  Hopkins. 
It  is  even  uncertain  that  the  Lexington  and  Providence 
were  purchased  previously  to  the  Cabot  and  Doria,  although 
there  are,  perhaps,  more  reasons  for  believing  that  they 
were,  than  that  they  were  not.  If  the  authority  of  Paul 
Jones  is  to  be  deemed  conclusive,  the  vessels  of  the  squad- 


*  t. 


\^ 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


250 


ron  in  which  he  first  sailed,  composed  the  entire  naval  force 
of  the  country,  at  that  precise  time;  but  Com.  Jones  makes 
many  mistakes  in  his  allusions,  and,  in  this  particular,  he  is 
known  to  have  been  in  error.  His  correspondence  is  en- 
titled to  great  respect  as  authority,  though  like  all  authority 
of  this  nature,  its  facts  are  to  be  received  with  caution,  and 
collated  with  care.  There  is  reason  to  think  that  the 
Providence  made  at  least  one  cruise  under  Capt.  Whipple, 
as  a  privateer,  out  of  Rhode  Island,  before  she  was  pur- 
chased into  the  navy,  nor  does  there  appear  to  be  any  evi- 
dence that  a  single  vessel  of  war  was  ever  built  for  the  re- 
gular service  of  the  general  government  of  the  country,  or 
the  United  American  Colonies,  previously  to  those  autho- 
rized by  the  law  of  October,  1775.  Of  these,  it  is  impos- 
sible to  say  which  was  first  got  into  the  water,  though  there 
is  proof  that  the  Raleigh  32,  was  one  of  those  earliest 
launched. 

It  remains  only  to  say  that  the  navy  of  the  Revolution, 
like  its  army,  was  disbanded  at  the  termination  of  the  strug- 
gle, literally  leaving  nothing  behind  it,  but  the  recollections 
of  its  services  and  sufiferings. 


A 


:W 


.■r> 


xj.!.  ^^.i 


200 


If  AVAL  HISTORY. 


'i*.v;v. 


•'  fc 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


...,,\.j' 


•'..V'^^^ 


.i. 


7 
At 


r# 


rti 


The  peace  of  1783  found  the  finances  of  the  new  republic 
altogether  unequal  to  the  support  of  a  niarine.  Most  of  the 
public  cruisers,  as  has  been  seen,  had  fallen  into  the  hands 
of  the  enemy,  or  had  been  destroyed,  and  the  few  that  re- 
mained were  sold.  The  Alliance,  which  appears  to  have 
been  the  favourite  ship  of  the  service  to  the  very  last,  was 
reluctantly  parted  with ;  but  a  survey  being  held  on  her,  she 
was  also  disposed  of  in  June,  1785,  in  preference  to  en- 
countering the  expenses  of  repairs. 

Although  the  United  Slates  now  kept  no  vessels  of  war, 
several  of  the  states,  themselves,  with  the  consent  of  Con- 
gress, which  was  necessary  by  the  articles  of  confedera- 
tion, had  small  cruisers  of  their  own,  that  did  the  duties  of 
guarda-costas  and  revenue  cutters.  A  i  this  period  in  the 
history  of  the  country,  it  will  be  remembered  that  each  state 
had  its  own  custom-houses,  levied  its  own  duties,  and  pur- 
sued its  own  policy  in  trade,  with  the  single  exception  that 
it  could  not  contravene  any  stipulation  by  treaty  that  had 
been  entered  into  by  Congress. 

After  the  peace,  the  trade  of  the  United  States  revived, 
as  a  matter  of  course,  though  it  had  to  contend  with  many 
difficulties,  besides  the  impoverished  condition  of  the  coun- 
try. It  has  been  a  matter  of  question,  what  vessel  first  carried 
the  American  flag  into  the  Chinese  seas,  but  there  can  be 


4f; 


4 


«        I 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


861 


•    .'(, 


I 


\  \ 


no  doubt  that  it  was  the  ship  Empress  of  China,  Capt. 
Green,  which  sailed  from  New- York,  the  22d  of  Febru- 
ary, 1784,  and  returned  to  the  same  port  on  the  11th  of 
May,  1785.  This  vessel,  however,  did  not  make  a  direct 
voyage,  touching  in  Europe,  on  her  outward-bound  pas- 
sage; and  the  honour  of  going  direct  belongs  to  the  Enter- 
prise, Capt.  Dean,  a  sloop  of  80  tons,  built  in  Albany, 
which  went  and  returned  in  1785.  It  ought  to  be  mention- 
ed, to  the  credit  of  the  English  factory  at  Canton,  that,  not- 
withstanding the  jealousies  and  interests  of  trade,  which, 
perhaps,  oftener  lead  to  unprincipled  acts,  than  any  other 
one  concern  of  life,  struck  with  the  novelty  and  boldness 
of  the  experiment,  it  received  these  adventurers  with  kind- 
ness and  hospitality.  In  1787,  the  Alliance  frigate,  con- 
verted into  an  Indiaman,  went  to  Canton,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Capt.  Thomas  Read,  formerly  of  the  navy.  This 
officer  took  a  new  route,  actually  going  to  the  southward 
of  New-Holland,  in  consequence  of  the  season  of  the  year, 
which  had  brought  him  into  the  unfavourable  monsoons^. 
Notwithstanding  this  long  circuit,  the  noble  old  ship  made 
the  passage  in  very  tolerable  time.  Capt.  Read  discovered 
some  islands  to  the  eastward  of  New-Holland. 

The  period  between  the  peace  and  the  year  1788,  was 
one  of  troubles,  insurrections  in  the  states,  and  difficul- 
ties growing  out  of  the  defective  political  organization  of 
the  country.  To  these  grievances  may  be  added  the  em- 
barrassments arising  from  the  renewal  of  the  claims  of  the 
British  merchants,  that  had  been  suspended  by  the  war. 
All  these  circumstances  united  to  produce  uncertainty  and 
distress.  Discreet  men  saw  the.  necessity  of  a  change  of 
system,  and  the  results  of  the  collected  wisdom  of  the  nation 
were  offi)red  to  the  world  in  a  plan  for  substituting  the  con- 
stitution of  an  identified  government,  in  the  place  of  the 
articles  of  association,  and  of  creating  what  has  since  been 
popularly  termed  the  Union,  in  lieu  of  the  old  Confederation. 


« 


m 


^^ 


263 


■Hk* 


MAVAL  HISTORY. 


'■■f       '. 


The  scheme  was  adopted,  and  in  April,  1789,  the  new  go> 
vernment  went  into  operation,  with  Washington  at  its  head, 
as  President.  '  '  '  '    '    '^ '» 

The  entire  military  organization  underwent  many  im- 
portant alterations,  by  this  change  of  government.  The 
President  became  the  commander-in-chief  of  both  the  army 
and  navy,  and  he  possessed  the  civil  power  of  appointing 
their  officers,  subject  only  to  the  approbation  of  a  senate, 
which  was  also  instituted  on  this  occasion,  and  to  a  few 
subordinate  regulations  of  congress.  In  addition  to  this  high 
trust,  was  confided  to  him  one  of  still  heavier  responsibili- 
ties, by  which  he  could  dismiss  any  civil  or  military  officer, 
the  judges  excepted,  however  high  his  rank,  or  long  his  ser- 
vices. The  supplies  were  raised  directly  by  the  federal 
power,  without  the  intervention  of  the  states ;  and  the  entire 
government,  within  the  circle  of  its  authority,  became  as 
direct  and  efficient,  as  that  of  any  other  polity  which  pos- 
sessed the  representative  form. 

The  beneficial  consequences  of  these  fundamental  altera- 
tions were  visible,  in  all  the  departments  of  the  country.  It 
was  deemed  premature,  nevertheless,  to  think  of  the  re-esta- 
blishment of  a  marine ;  for,  oppressed  with  debt,  and  men- 
aced with  a  renewal  of  the  war  with  England,  the  administra- 
tion of  Washington  was  cautiously,  and  with  the  greatest  pru- 
dence, endeavouring  to  extricate  the  country  from  the  vari- 
ous entanglements  that  were  perhaps  inseparable  from  its 
peculiar  condition,  and  to  set  in  motion  the  machinery  of  a 
new  and  an  entirely  novel  mode  of  conducting  the  affairs 
of  a  state.  While  Washington,  and  his  ministers,  appeared 
to  be  fully  sensible  of  the  importance  of  a  navy,  the  poverty  ,;. 
of  the  treasury  alone,  would  have  been  deemed  an  insuper- ' 
able  objection  to  encountering  its  expense.  Still,  so  evident 
was  the  connexion  between  an  efficient  {rovernment  and  a 
permanent  and  strong  marine,  in  a  country  like  this,  that 
when  Paul  Jones  first  heard  of  the  change,  he  prepared  to 


>^ 


:-^4 


*  :M 


'> 


.«• 


ji-   '1 


M 


'4i 


;f-' 


4 


♦  ^•. 


.        -*.  / 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


308 


b.;  « 


-     ^: 


1^ 


j^. 


V 


ff 


'•* 


w 


>^: 


i 


return  to  Amorica,  in  the  confident  hope  of  being  again 
employed.  mr  ,      - ' 

In  the  mean  time,  the  Dcy  of  Algiers,  discovering  that  a 
new  country  had  started  into  existence,  which  possessed 
merchant  vessels  and  no  cruisers,  as  a  matter  of  course  bl-' 
gan  to  prey  on  its  commerce.  On  the  25th  of  July,  1785, 
the  schooner  Maria,  belonging  to  Boston,  was  seized,  out- 
side of  the  Straits  of  Oibraltar,  by  a  corsair,  and  her  crew 
were  carried  into  slavery.  This  unprovoked  piracy, — 
though  committed  under  the  forms  of  a  legal  government, 
the  act  deserves  this  reproacli, — was  followed,  on  the  30th 
of  the  same  month,  by  the  capture  of  the  ship  Dolphin,  of 
Philadelphia,  Capt.  O'Brien,  who,  with  all  his  people,  was 
made  to  share  the  same  fate.  On  the  0th  of  July,  1790,  or 
a  twelvemonth  after  the  organization  of  the  federal  govern- 
ment, there  still  remained  in  captivity,  fourteen  of  the  unfor- 
tunate persons  who  had  been  thus  seized.  Of  course,  five 
bitter  years  had  passed  in  slavery,  because,  at  the  period 
named,  the  United  States  of  America,  the  country  to  which 
they  belonged,  did  not  possess  sufficient  naval  force  to  com- 
pel the  petty  tyrant  at  the  head  of  the  Algerine  government 
to  do  justice!  In  looking  back  at  events  like  these,  we  feel 
it  difficult  to  persuade  ourselves  that  the  nation  was  really 
so  powerless,  and  cannot  but  suspect  that  in  the  strife  of 
^oarties,  the  struggles  of  opinion,  and  the  pursuit  of  gain,  the 
sufferings  of  the  distant  captive  were  overlooked  or  for- 
gotten. One  of  the  first  advantages  of  the  new  system,  was 
connected  with  the  measures  taken  by  the  administration  of 
Washington  to  relieve  these  unfortunate  persons.  A  long 
and  weary  negotiation  ensued,  and  Paul  Jones  was  appoint- 
ed, in  1792,  to  be  an  agent  for  effecting  the  liberation  of  the 
captives.  At  the  same  time,  a  commission  was  also  sent  to 
him,  naming  him  consul  at  the  regency  of  Algiers.  This 
celebrated  man,  for  whose  relief  these  nominations  were  -Hil, 


'y*.^ 
% 


Mid.  ". 


J|%L       .        _^.       - 


I     •. 


204 


If  AVAL  HISTOi.  < 


probably  made,  was  dead  before  tlie  arrival  of  the  diftercnt 
commissions  at  Paris.  A  second  agent  was  named  in  the 
person  of  Mr.  Barclay;  but  tMd  genlleman  also  died  before 
^e  could  enter  on  the  duties  of  the  office.   '.  '  >  *'' 

Algiers  and  Portugal  had  long  been  at  war,  and,  though 
the  latter  government  seldom  resorted  to  active  measures 
against  the  town  of  its  enemy,  it  was  very  useful  to  the  rest 
of  the  Christian  world,  by  maintaining  a  strong  force  in  the 
Straits  of  Gibraltar,  rendering  it  difficult  for  any  rover  to 
find  her  way  out  of  the  Mediterranean.  Contrary  to  ail  ex- 
pcctation,  this  war  was  suddenly  terminated  in  1703,  through 
the  agency  of  the  British  consul  at  Algiers,  and,  as  it  was  said, 
without  the  knowledge  of  the  Portuguese  government.  This 
peace,  or  truce,  allowed  the  Algerine  rovers  to  come  again 
into  the  Atlantic,  and  its  consequences  to  the  American  com- 
merce were  soon  apparent.  A  squadron  consisting  of  four 
ships,  three  xebccks,  and  a  brig,  immediately  passed  the 
straits,  and  by  the  Uth  of  October,  1703,  four  more  Ameri- 
can vessels  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  these  lawless  bar- 
barians. At  the  same  lime,  the  Dey  of  Algiers,  who  had 
commenced  this  quarrel  without  any  other  pretence  than  a 
demand  for  tribute,  refused  all  accommodation,  even  me- 
nacing the  person  of  the  minister  appointed  by  the  Ameri- 
can government,  should  he  venture  to  appear  within  his 
dominions !  During  the  first  cruise  of  the  vessels  mentioned, 
they  captured  ten  Americans,  and  mddc  one  hundred  and 
five  additional  prisoners. 

These  depredations  had  now  reached  a  pass  when  further 
submission  became  impossible,  without  a  total  abandonment 
of  those  rights  that  it  is  absolutely  requisite  for  every  inde- 
pendent government  to  maintain.  The  cabinet  took  the 
subject  into  grave  deliberation,  and  on  the  3d  of  March, 
1794,  the  President  sent  a  message  to  CongreSs,  communi- 
the  facts  connected  with  1 


M 


-    V   t 


i-  ^' 


calmg 


Algerine  dcpredf 


.*.: 


•MAMkabidlt«*«^M«iriftMi 


m'' 


• 


Vf 

4 


4 


^ 


KAVAL  HISTORY. 


305 


tions,  and  on  the  27th  of  the  same  month,  a  law  was  ap- 
proved  by  the  executive,  authorizing  the  construction,  or  the 
purchase  of  six  frigates,  or  of  such  other  naval  force,  that 
should  not  be  inferior  to  that  of  the  six  frigates  named,  as 
the  President  might  sec  fit  to  order,  provided  no  vessel 
should  mount  less  than  32  guns.  This  law  had  a  direct  re- 
ference to  the  existing  difficulty  with  Algiers,  and  it  con- 
tained a  paragraph  ordering  that  all  proceedings  under  its 
provisions  should  cease,  in  the  event  of  an  accommodation 
of  the  quarrel  with  that  regency.  Notwithstanding  this  limit 
to  the  action  of  the  law,  the  latter  may  be  considered  the 
first  step  taken  towards  the  establishment  of  the  present 
navy,  as  some  of  the  ships  that  were  eventually  constructed 
under  it  are  still  in  use,  and  some  of  the  officers  who  were 
appointed  to  them,  passed  the  remainder  of  their  lives  in 
the  service.  ,  ,  ,  t 

The  executive  was  ho  sooner  authorized  to  proceed  by 
the  law  of  the  27th  of  March,  1704,  than  measures  were 
taken  to  build  the  vessels  ordered.  The  provision  of  the 
first  paragraph  was  virtually  followed,  and  the  six  frigates 
were  laid  down  as  soon  as  possible.  These  vessels  were  the 
Constitution    44,  laid  down  at  Boston. 


President  44, 
United  States  44, 
Chesapeake  38, 
Constellation  38, 
Congress         38, 


New  York. 
Philadelphia. 
Portsmouth,  Va. 
Baltimore. 
Portsmouth,  N.  H. 


The  most  capable  builders  in  the  country  were  consulted, 
the  models  of  Mr.  Joshua  Humphreys,  of  Philadelphia,  being 
those  accepted.  On  this  occasion,  an  important  and  re- 
cent improvement  in  ship  building  was  adopted,  by  which 
frigates  were  increased  in  size  and  in  efficiency,  by  so  far 
lengthening  them,  as  to  give  to  ships  on  one  deck,  the  metal 
that  had  formerly  been  distributed  on  two.  The  three  ships 
first  mentioned  in  the  foregoing  list,  were  of  this  class  of 

Vol.  I.— 23 


'W', 


■?£'' 


I 


266 


■<s< 


■  -.1  \  i 

NAVAL  BISTORT. 


vessels,  being  pierced  for  thirty  twenty-four-poanders,  on 
their  gun  decks,  while  their  upper  deck  armaments  varied 
with  circumstances.  On  this  account  they  were  rated  as 
forty-fours,  a  description  of  vessel  that  had  previously  borne 
its  gunsontwo  decks,  besides  the  quarter-deck  and  forecastle. 
The  others  were  of  the  force  of  the  common  Finglish  thirty- 
eights,  carrying  28  eighteens  below,  and  as  many  lighter 
guns  above  as  was  deemed  expedient.  From  a  want  of  sys- 
tem, the  Chesapeake  was  known  in  the  accounts  of  the  day  as 
a  forty- four,  and  she  even  figures  in  the  reports  under  the  law, 
as  a  vessel  of  that  rate,  owing  to  the  circumstance  that  she 
was  originally  intended  for  a  ship  of  that  force  and  size. 
But,  in  consequence  of  a  difficulty  in  obtaining  the  necessary 
frame,  her  dimensions  were  lessened,  and  she  took  her 
place  in  the  navy,  by  the  side  of  the  two  vessels  last  men- 
tioned on  the  foregoing  list.  But  so  much  inaccuracy  ex- 
isted at  that  day,  and  the  popular  accounts  abound  with  so 
many  errors  of  this  nature,  that  we  shall  find  many  occa- 
sions to  correct  similar  mistakes,  before  we  reach  a  period 
when  the  service  was  brought  within  the  rules  of  a  uni- 
form and  consistent  system. 

In  selecting  commanders  for  these  ships,  the  President 
very  naturally  turned  to  those  old  officers  who  had  proved 
themselves  fit  for  the  stations,  during  the  war  of  the  Revo- 
lution. Many  of  the  naval  captains  of  that  trying  period, 
however,  were  already  dead,  and  others,  again,  had  become 
incapacitated  by  age  and  wounds,  for  the  arduous  duties  of 
sea  officers.  The  following  is  the  list  selected,  which  took 
rank,  in  the  order  in  which  the  names  appear,  viz:— 

John  Barry,  Joshua  Barney,  ' 

Samuel  Nicholson,  Richard  Dale,    • 

Silas  Talbot,  Thomas  Truxtun. 

With  the  exception  of  Capt.  Truxtun,  all  of  these 
gentlemen  had  served  in  the  navy  during  the  Revolu- 
tion.   Capt.  Barry  was  the  only  one  of  the  six  who  was  not 


;*.*, 


lifrk. . 


■mn^^ 


.•'; 


.'i. 


VAVAL  HISTORY.  867 

born  in  America,  but  he  had  passed  nearly  all  his  life  in  it, 
and  was  thoroughly  identified  with  his  adopted  country  in 
feeling  and  interests.  He  had  often  distinguished  himself 
during  the  preceding  war,  and,  perhaps,  of  all  the  naval 
captains  that  remained,  he  was  the  one  who  possessed  the 
greatest  reputation  for  experience,  conduct  and  skill.  The 
appointment  met  with  general  approbation,  nor  did  any 
thing  ever  occur  to  give  the  government  reason  to  regret 
its  selection.  ' 

Capt.  Nicholson  had  served  with  credit  in  subordinate 
situations,  in  command  of  the  Hague,  or  Deane  32,  and  in  one 
instance,  at  the  head  of  a  small  squadron.  This  officer  also 
commanded  the  Dolphin  10,  the  cutter  that  the  commission- 
ers sent  with  Capt.  Wickes,  in  his  successful  cruise  in  the 
narrow  seas. 

Capt.  Talbot's  career  was  singular,  for  though  connected 
with  the  sea  in  his  youth,  he  had  entered  the  army,  at  the 
commencement  of  the  Revolution,  and  was  twice  promoted 
in  that  branch  of  the  service,  for  gallantry  and  skill  on  the 
water.  This  gentleman  had  been  raised  to  the  rank  of  a 
captain  in  the  navy,  in  1779,  but  he  had  never  been  able  to 
obtain  a  ship.  Subsequently  to  the  war,  Capt.  Talbot  had 
retired  from  the  sea,  and  he  had  actually  served  one  term 
in  Congress. 

Capt.  Barney  had  served  as  a  lieutenant  in  many  ac- 
tions, and  commanded  the  Pennsylvania  State  cruiser,  the 
Hyder  Ally,  when  she  took  the  General  Monk.  This  offi- 
cer declined  his  appointment  in  consequence  of  having  been 
put  junior  to  LieuL  Colonel  Talbot,  and  Capt.  Sever  was 
named  in  his  place. 

Capt.  Dale  had  been  Paul  Jones*  first  lieutenant,  besides 
seeing  much  other  service  in  subordinate  capacities,  during 
the  war  of  the  Revolution. 

Capt.  Truxtun  had  a  reputation  for  spirit  that  his  subse- 
quent career  fully  justified,  and  had  seen  much  service  du- 


;:* 


^ 

i 


fC! 


268 


KAVAL  HISTORY. 


ring  the  Revolution,  in  command  of  diflerent  private  vessels 
of  war.       •    ■  .:■  -\\^>  '  -  ■'^-^    ■ 

The  rank  of  the  subordinate  officers  eventually  appoint- 
ed to  these  ships,  was  determined  by  that  of  the  different 
commanders,  the  senior  lieutenant  of  Capt.  Barry's  ves- 
sel taking  rank  of  all  the  other  first  lieutenants,  and  the 
junior  officers  accordingly. 

All  these  preparations,  however,  were  suddenly  suspend- 
ed by  the  signing  of  a  treaty  with  Algiers,  in  Nov.  1706. 
By  a  provision  of  the  law,  the  work  was  not  to  be  prose- 
cuted, in  the  event  of  such  a  peace,  and  the  President  im- 
mediately called  the  attention  of  Congress  to  the  subject. 
A  new  net  was  passed,  without  delay,  ordering  the  comple- 
tion and  equipment  of  two  of  the  forty-fours,  and  of  one  of 
the  thirty-eights,  while  it  directed  the  work  on  the  remaining 
three  ships  to  be  stopped,  and  the  perishable  portion  of  their 
materials  to  be  sold.  A  sum  which  had  also  been  voted  for 
the  construction  of  some  galleys,  but  no  part  of  which  had 
yet  been  used,  was  applied  to  the  equipment  of  those  ves- 
sels ordered  to  be  launched.* 
>,      ■■'-    ,  i     •  ..    -  -:■       ,,'      ";.■...:  :'   .    '.         :     :  '  ;'.  -.-.    '    : 

•  The  reader  will  obtain  some  idea  of  the  spirit  which  may  prevail  in  a 
nation,  when  it  neglects  to  use,  or  does  not  possess,  the  means  of  causing 
its  rights  and  character  to  be  respected,  by  the  tone  of  the  following  ar- 
ticle, which  is  extracted  from  a  journal  of  the  date  of  1798,  and  which 
would  seem  to  be  as  much  in  unison  with  the  temper  of  that  day,  as  one 
of  an  opposite  character  would  comport  witl)  the  spirit  of  our  own  times. 
Algiers  will  not  extort  tribute,  ag^in,  from  America,  but  other  rights,  not 
less  dear  to  national  honour,  national  character,  and  national  interests, 
may  be  sacrificed  to  a  temporising  spirit,  should  not  the  navy  be  enlarged, 
and  made  the  highest  aim  of  national  policy. 

f         '"■'■■.' 
,  ,r         '  ,         "  Crescent  Frigate.  ^      ■ 

\ 

•«  PoRTSMorTH,  Jak.  20th. 

"On  Thursday  morning  about  sunrise,  a  gun  was  discharged  from  the 

Crescent  frigate,  as  a  signal  for  getting  under  way;  and  at  10,  A.  M.,  she 

cleared  the  harbour,  with  a  fine  leading  breeze.     Our  best  wishes  follow 

Captain  Newman,  his  oflftccrs  and  men.    May  they  arrive  in  safety  at  the 


.    I 


I 


M AVAL  HISTORr. 


260 


The  President,  in  his  annual  speech  to  Congress,  Decem- 
ber 1796,  strongly  recommended  laws  for  the  gradual  in- 
crease of  the  navy.  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that,  as 
appears  by  documents  published  at  the  time,  the  peace 
obtained  from  the  Dey  of  Algiers  cost  the  government  of 
the  United  States  near  a  million  of  dollars,  a  sum  quite 
sufficient  to  have  kept  the  barbarian's  port  hermetically 
blockaded  until  he  should  have  humbly  sued  for  permission 
to  send  a  craft  to  sea.  v  • 

While  these  events  were  gradually  leading  to  the  for- 
mation of  a  navy,  the  maritime  powers  of  Europe  became 
involved  in  what  was  nearly  a  general  war,  and  their  meti- 
sures  of  hostility  against  each  other,  had  a  direct  tendency 
to  trespass  on  the  privileges  of  neutrals.  It  would  exceed 
the  limits  of  this  work  to  enter  into  the  history  of  that  sys- 
tem of  gradual  encroachments  on  the  rights  of  the  American 
people,  which  distinguished  the  measures  of  both  the  two 
great  belligerents,  in  the  war  that  succeeded  the  French 
Revolution;  or  the  height  of  audacity  to  which  the  cruisers 
of  France,  in  particular,  carried  their  depredations,  most 

place  of  their  destination,  and  present  to  the  Dey  of  Algiers,  one  of  the 
finest  specimens'  of  elegant  naval  architecture  which  was  ever  borne  on 
the  Piscataqua's  waters. 

"  Bhw  cU  ye  wim/s  thatJiV.  the  prosperous  sail. 
And  hushed  in  pence  oe  eoary  adverse  gale. 

"The  Crescent  is  a  piedent  'rora  the  United  States  to  the  Dey,  as  com- 
pensation for  delay  i.)  hoc  fulfilling  our  treaty  stipulations  in  proper  time. 

"  Richard  O'Brier,  Esq.,  who  was  ten  years  a  prisoner  at  Algiers,  took 
passage  in  the  above  frigate,  and  is  to  reside  at  Algiers  as  Consul  General 
of  the  United  States  to  all  the  Barbary  states. 

••  The  Crescent  has  many  valuable  presents  on  board  for  the  Dey,  and 
when  she  sailed  was  supposed  to  be  worth  at  least  three  hundred  thousand 
dollars. 

"Twenty-six  barrels  of  dollars  constituted  a  part  of  her  cargo. 

'<  It  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  the  captain,  chief  of  the  officers,  and 
many  of  the  privates  of  the  Crescent  fr'<a>.«,  have  been  prisoners  at  Al- 
giers." 

23* 


-.i- 


m 


r- 


270 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


% 


h' 


probably  mistaking  the  amount  of  the  influence  of  tiieir  own 
country,  over  the  great  body  of  the  American  nation.  Not 
only  did  they  capture  British  ships  within  our  waters,  but 
they  actually  took  the  same  liberties  with  Americans  also. 
All  attempts  to  obtain  redress  of  the  French  government 
failed,  and  unable  to  submit  any  longer  to  such  injustice, 
the  government,  iri  April  1798,  recommended  to  Congress  a 
plan  of  armament  and  defence,  that  it  was  hoped  would  have 
the  effect  to  check  these  aggressions,  and  avert  an  open 
conflict.  Down  to  this  period,  the  whole  military  defence  of 
the  country,  was  intrusted  to  one  department,  that  of  war ; 
and  a  letter  from  the  secretary  of  this  branch  of  the  govern- 
ment, to  the  chairman  of  a  committee  to  devise  means  of 
protection  and  defence,  was  the  form  in  which  this  high  in- 
terest was  brought  before  the  nation,  through  its  represen- 
tatives. Twenty  small  vessels  were  advised  to  be  built,  and, 
in  the  event  of  an  open  rupture,  it  was  recommended  to 
Congress  to  authorize  the  President  to  cause  six  ships  of  the 
line  to  be  constructed.  This  force  was  in  addition  to  the 
six  frigates  authorized  to  be  built,  by  the  law  of  1794. 

The  United  States  44,  Constitution  44,  and  Constellation 
38,  had  been  got  afloat  the  year  previous.  These  three 
ships  are  all  still  in  the  service,  and  during  the  last  forty 
years,  neither  has  ever  been  long  out  of  commission. 

The  United  States  was  the  first  vessel  that  was  got  into 
the  water,  under  the  present  organization  of  the  navy. 
She  was  launched  at  Philadelphia,  on  the  10th  of  July,  1797, 
and  the  Constellation  followed  her  on  the  7th  of  September. 

Congress  acted  so  far,  on  the  recommendation  of  the  se- 
cretary of  war,  as  to  authorize  the  President  to  cause  to  be 
built,  purchased,  or  hired,  twelve  vessels,  none  of  which  were 
to  exceed  twenty-two  guns,  and  to  see  that  they  were  duly 
equipped  and  manned.  To  effect  these  objects  $950,000 
were  appropriated.  This  law  passed  the  27th  of  April,  1798, 
and  on  the  30th,  a  regular  navy  department  was  formally 


M 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


271 


created.  Benjamin  Stoddart,  of  Georgetown,  in  the  Dis- 
trict of  Columbia,  was  the  first  secretary  put  at  the  head  of 
this  important  branch  of  the  government,  entering  on  his 
duties  in  June  of  the  same  year. 

After  so  long  and  so  extraordinary  a  forgetfulncss  of  one 
of  the  most  important  interests  of  the  nation,  Congress  now 
seemed  to  be  in  earnest;  the  depredations  of  the  French 
having  reached  a  pass  that  could  no  longer  be  submitted  to 
with  honour.  On  the  4th  of  May,  a  new  appropriation  was 
made  for  the  construction  of  galleys  and  other  small  vessels, 
and  on  the  28th  of  the  same  month,  the  President  was  em- 
powered to  instruct  the  commanders  of  the  public  vessels  to 
capture  and  send  into  port  all  French  cruisers,  whether 
public  or  private,  that  might  be  found  on  the  coast,  having 
committed,  or  which  there  was  reason  to  suppose  might 
commit,  any  depredations  on  the  commerce  of  the  country; 
and,  to  recapture  any  American  vessels  that  might  have 
already  fallen  into  their  hands.  Additional  laws  were 
soon  passed  for  the  condemnation  of  such  prizes,  and 
for  the  safe  keeping  of  their  crews.  In  June,  another  law 
was  passed,  authorizing  the  President  to  accept  of  twelve 
more  vessels  of  war,  should  they  be  offered  to  him  by  the 
citizens,  and  to  issue  public  stock  in  payment.  By  a  clause 
in  this  act,  it  was  provided  that  these  twelve  ships,  as  well 
as  the  twelve  directed  to  be  procured  in  the  law  of  the 
27th  of  April  of  the  same  year,  should  consist  of  six  not  ex- 
ceeding 18  guns,  of  twelve  between  20  and  24  guns,  and  of 
six  of  not  less  than  32  guns.  The  cautious  manner  in  which 
the  national  legislature  proceeded,  on  this  occasion,  will  re- 
mind the  reader  of  the  reserve  used  in  1775  and  in  1776 ; 
and  we  trace  distinctly,  in  both  instances,  the  moderation  of 
a  people  averse  to  war,  no  less  than  a  strong  reluctance  to 
break  th";  ties  of  an  ancient  but  much  abused  amity. 

Down  to  this  moment,  the  old  treaty  of  alliance,  formed 
between  France  and  the  United  States  during  the  war  of  the 


./'3' 


M,. 


..i^i. 


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372 


KAVAL  HISTORY. 


■ifi- 


Revolution,  and  some  subsequent  conventions,  were  legally 
in  existence ;  but  Congress  by  law  solemnly  abrogated  them 
all,  on  the  7(h  of  July,  1798,  on  the  plea  that  they  had  been 
repeatedly  disregarded  by  France,  and  that  the  latter  coun- 
try continued,  in  the  face  of  the  most  solemn  remonstrances, 
to  uphold  a  system  of  predatory  warfare  on  the  commorco 
of  the  United  States. 

It  will  be  seen  that  an  express  declaration  of  war  was 
avoided  in  all  these  measures,  nor  was  it  resorted  to,  at 
all,  throughout  this  controversy,  although  war,  in  fact, 
existed  from  the  moment  the  first  American  cruisers  ap- 
peared on  the  ocean.  On  the  9th  of  July,  1798,  another 
law  passed,  authorizing  the  American  vessels  of  war  to  cap- 
ture French  cruisers  wherever  they  might  be  found,  and 
empowering  the  President  to  i:;sue  commissions  to  private 
armed  vessels,  conveying  to  them  the  same  rights  as  re- 
garded captures,  as  had  been  given  to  the  public  ships.  By 
this  act,  the  prizes  became  liable  to  condemnation,  for  the 
benefit  of  the  captors.  * 

On  the  11th  of  July,  1798,  a  new  marine  corps  was  esta- 
blished by  law,  the  old  one  having  dissolved  with  the  navy 
of  the  Revolution,  to  which  it  had  properly  belonged.  It 
contained  881  officers,  non-commissioned  officers,  musicians 
and  privates,  and  was  commanded  by  a  major.  On  the  16th 
of  the  same  month,  a  law  was  passed  to  construct  three 
more  frigates.  This  act  was  expressed  in  such  terms  as  to 
enable  the  government  immediately  to  complete  the  ships 
commenced  under  the  law  of  1794,  and  which  had  been 
f  Sfi^pei.ded  under  that  of  1796.  The  whole  force  authorized 
hy  law,  on  the  IQ'  of  July,  consequently,  consisted  of  twelve 
irigates ;  twelve  ships  of  a  force  between  20  and  24  guns, 
inclusive ;  and  six  smaller  sloops,  besides  galleys  and  reve- 
nue cutters ;  making  a  total  of  thirty  active  cruisers. 

Such  is  the  history  of  the  legislation  that  gave  rise  to  the 
present  American  marine,  and  which  led  to  what  is  com- 


W  I  m 


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WAVAL  HISTORY. 


273 


'0 


monly  called  the  quasi  war  against  France.  There  appears 
to  have  been  no  enactments  limiting  the  number  of  the  of> 
ficers,  who  were  appointed  according  to  the  wants  of  the 
service,  though  their  stations  and  allowances  were  duly 
regulated  by  law. 

While  the  government  of  the  United  States  was  taking 
these  incipient  and  efficient  steps  to  defend  the  rights  and 
character  of  the  nation,  the  better  feeling  of  the  country  was 
entirely  in  its  favour.  Families  of  the  highest  social  and 
political  influence  pressed  forward  to  offer  their  sons  to  the 
service,  and  the  navy  being  the  favourite  branch,  nearly  all 
of  those  who  thus  presented  themselves,  and  whose  ages  did 
not  preclude  the  probationary  delay,  had  their  names  en- 
rolled on  the  list  of  midshipmen.  Young  and  intelligent  sea- 
men were  taken  from  the  merchant  service,  to  receive  the 
rank  of  lieutenants,  and  the  commanders  and  captains  were 
either  chosen  from  among  those  who  had  seen  service  in 
the  war  of  the  Revolution,  or  who  by  their  experience  in 
the  charge  of  Indiamen,  and  other  vessels  of  value,  were 
accustomed  to  responsibility  and  command.  It  may  be  well 
to  add,  here,  that  the  seamen  of  the  nation  joined  heartily  in 
the  feeling  of  the  day,  and  that  entire  crews  were  frequently 
entered  for  frigates  in  the  course  of  a  few  hours.  Want  of 
men  was  hardly  experienced  at  all  in  this  contest ;  aad  we 
deem  it  a  proof  that  seamen  can  always  be  had  in  a  war 
that  offers  active  service,  by  voluntary  enlistments,  provided 
an  outlet  be  nol  offered  to  enterprise  through  the  medium  of 
private  cruisers.  Although  commissions  were  granted  to 
privateers  and  letters  of  marque,  on  this  occasion,  compara- 
tively few  of  the  former  were  taken  out,  the  commerce  of 
France  offering  but  slight  inducements  to  encounter  the 
expense. 

During  the  year  1797,  or  previously  to  the  commence- 
ment of  hostilities  between  the  United  States  and  France, 
the  exports  of  the  former  country  amounted  to  857,000,000, 


^^'^ 


974 


^ 


t- 


ITAVAL  HISTORY. 


fy  , 


>• 


and  the  shipping  had  increased  to  quite  800,000  tons,  while 
the  population,  making  an  estimate  from  the  census  of  1800, 
had  risen  to  near  5,000,000.  The  revenue  of  the  year  v/m 
•8,209,070.  V      /         .    '. 


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CHAPTER  XV. 


u 


Although  three  of  the  frigates  were  launched  in  1707, 
neither  was  quite  ready  for  service  when  the  necessities  of 
the  country  required  that  vessels  should  be  sent  to  sea.  The 
want  of  suitable  spars  and  guns,  and  other  naval  stores,  fit  for 
ships  of  size,  had  retarded  the  labour  on  the  frigates,  while 
vessels  had  been  readily  bought  for  the  sloops  of  war,  which, 
though  deficient  in  many  of  the  qualities  and  conveniences 
of  regular  cruisers,  were  made  to  answer  the  exigencies  of 
the  times.  Among  others  that  had  been  thus  provided,  was 
an  Indiuman,  called  the  Ganges.  Retaining  her  name,  this 
vessel  was  brought  into  the  service,  armed  and  equipped  as 
a  24,  and  put  under  the  command  of  Capt.  Richard  Dale, 
who  was  ordered  to  sail  on  a  cruise  on  the  22d  of  May. 
This  ship,  then,  was  the  first  man  of  war  that  ever  got  to 
sea  under  the  present  organization  of  the  navy,  or  since  the 
United  States  have  existed  under  the  constitution.  Capt. 
Dale  was  instructed  to  do  no  more  than  pertains  generally 
to  the  authority  of  a  vessel  of  war,  that  is  cruising  on  the 
coast  of  the  country  to  which  she  belongs,  in  a  time  of 
peace ;  the  law  that  empowered  seizures  not  passing  until  a 
few  days  after  he  had  sailed.  His  cruising  ground  extended 
from  the  east  end  of  Long  Island  to  the  capes  of  Virginia, 
with  a  view  to  cover,  as  much  as  possible,  the  three  import- 
ant ports  of  Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  and  New- York,  and,  in 
anticipation  of  the  act  of  the  28th  of  May,  Capt.  Dale  was 
directed  to  appear  off  the  capes  of  the  Delaware  on  the  12th 


•.^, 


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876 


4 


ITAVAL  HISTORY. 


.FAi 


of  June,  to  receive  new  orders.    On  that  day,  instraclions  / 
were  accordingly  sent  to  him  to  f-apture  all  French  cruisers 
that  were  hovering  on  the  coast  v/lth  hostile  views  on  the 
Air^erican  commerce,  and  to  recapture  any  of  their  prizes 
he  might  happen  to  fall  in  with. 

The  Constellation  38,  Capt.  Truxtun,  and  the  Delaware 
20,  Capt.  Decatur,  next  went  to  sea,  early  in  June,  under  the 
last  of  the  foregoing  urders,  and  with  directions  to  cruise  to 
the  southward  of  Cape  Ffenry,  as  far  as  the  coast  of  Florida. 
When  a  few  days  out,  the  Delaware  fell  in  with  the  French 
privateer  schooner  Le  Croyable  14,  with  a  crew  of  70  men. 
Being  satisfied  that  this  vessel  had  already  made  several 
prizes,  and  that  she  was  actually  cruising  on  soundings,  in 
search  of  more,  Capt.  Decatur  took  her,  and  sent  her  into 
the  Delaware.  As  the  law  directing  the  capture  of  all 
armed  French  vessels  passed  soon  after  her  arrival,  Lo 
Croyable  was  condemned,  and  bought  into  the  navy.  She 
was  called  the  Retaliation,  and  the  command  of  her  was 
given  to  Lieut.  Bainbridgc. 

Le  Croyable  was,  consequently,  not  only  the  first  capture 
made,  in  what  it  is  usual  to  term  the  French  war  of  1708, 
but  she  was  the  first  vessel  ever  taken  by  the  present  navy, 
or  under  the  present  form  of  government. 

The  activity  employed  by  the  administration,  as  well  as 
by  the  navy,  now  astonished  those  who  had  so  long  been 
accustomed  to  believe  the  American  people  disposed  to 
submit  to  any  insult,  in  preference  to  encountering  the 
losses  of  a  war.  The  United  States  44,  Capt.  Barry,  went 
to  sea,  early  in  July,  and  proceeded  to  cruise  to  the  east- 
ward. This  ship  carried  out  with  her  many  young  gentle- 
men, who  have  since  risen  to  high  rank  and  distinction  in 
the  service.*    But  the  law  of  the  9th  of  that  month,  occur- 

*  The  first  lieutenant  of  the  United  States  on  this  cruise,  was  Mr, 
Ross;  second  lieutenant,  Mr.  MuUony;  third  lieutenant,  Mr.  James  Barron; 


,> 


W: 


■Ai' 


,4^*/.. 


k- 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


277 


ring  immediately  afterwards,  the  government  altered  its 
policy  entirely,  and  determined  to  send  at  once,  n  strong 
t'urco  among  the  West  India  islands,  where  the  enemy 
abounded,  and  where  the  commerce  of  the  country  was 
most  exposed  to  his  depredations.  On  the  11th,  instruc- 
tions were  sent  to  Capt.  Bnrry,  who  now  hoisted  a  broad 
pennant,  to  go  off  Capo  Cod,  with  the  Delaware  20,  Capt. 
Decatur,  whore  vould  find  the  Herald  18,  Capt.  Sever, 
that  officer  pre  ring  active  service  in  a  small  vessel,  < .» 
waiting  for  the  1 1  to  to  which  he  had  been  appointed,  and 
then  to  proceet  .ct  tly  to  the  West  Indies,  keeping  to 
windward. 

That  well  known  frigate,  the  Constitution  44,  had  been 
launched  at  Boston,  Sept.  20th,  1707;  and  she  first  got 
under  way,  July  20lh  of  this  year,  under  Capt.  Samuel 
Nicholson,  who,  in  August,  with  four  revenue  vessels  in  com- 
pany, was  directed  to  cruise  on  th'  coast,  to  the  southward 
of  Cape  Henry  *  These  revenue  vessels  were  generally 
brigs,  between  one  hundred  and  fifty  and  two  hundred  tons 
measurement,  with  armaments  varying  from  ten  to  four- 
teen guns,  and  crews  of  from  fifty  to  seventy  men.  At  the 
close  of  the  year,  many  of  them  were  taken  into  the 
navy,  and  we  find  some  of  their  oflicers,  soon  after  the 
commencement  of  the  contest,  in  the  command  of  frigates. 
The  celebrated  Preble  is  first  seen  in  actual  service,  as  the 
commander  of  one  of  these  revenue  vessels,  though  his 
rank  was  that  of  a  lieut.  com.,  and  he  had  been  previously 
attached  to  the  Constitution,  as  one  of  her  officers. 

Early  in  August,  the  Constellation  38,  Capt.  Truxtun,  and 

fourth  lieutenant,  Mr.  Charles  Stewart.  Among  the  midshipmen  wei'e 
Decatur,  Somers,  Caldwell,  &c.  &c.  Messrs.  Jacob  Jones  and  Crane, 
joined  her  soon  after. 

*  It  is  said  that  the  Constitution  would  have  been  the  first  vessel  ever 
got  into  the  water  under  the  new  organization,  had  she  not  stuck  in  an 
abortive  attempt  to  launch  her,  at  an  earlier  day. 

Vol.  I 24 


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378 


HAVAL  HISTORY. 


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the  Baltimore  20,  Capt  Phillips,  went  to  the  Havana,  and 
brought  a  convoy  of  sixty  sail  in  safety  to  the  United 
States;  several  French  cruisers  then  lying  in  the  port,  ready 
to  follow  the  merchantmen,  but  for  this  force,  the  presence 
of  which  prevented  ^em  from  appearing  outside  the  cas< 
tie.  By  the  close  of  the  year,  the  following  force  was  at 
sea ;  most  of  the  vessels  being  either  in  the  West  Indies,  or 
employed  in  convoying  betv;een  the  islands  and  the  United 
States.  ■■'■?'•  ,  ./.;ufc4W>  ■"-.  ..v.  vr^:  .■"•■■. 

United  States'  Ships  at  sea,  during  the  year  1798,  viz: 


•i\r 


^W.f^  ♦United  States  44,  Com.  Barry.  '^■ 
♦Constitution      44,  Capt.  Nicholson. 
>  ♦Constellation    38,  Capt.  Truxtun. 
George  Wash- 
ington          24,  Capt.  Fletcher. 
♦Portsmouth      24,  Capt  M'Niel. 


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':£ 


^ 


Revenue 
vessels. 


Merrimack 

24, 

Capt.  Brown^;/    '  '• 

Ganges 

24, 

Capt.  Tingey.  ^  '     A:; 

Montezuma 

20, 

Capt.  Murray. 

Baltimore 

20, 

Capt.  Phillips.          :- 

Delaware 

20, 

Capt.  Decatur. 

Herald 

18, 

Capt.  Russel. 

Richmond 

18, 

Capt.  S.  Barrom       ?^ 

♦Norfolk 

18, 

Capt.  Williams.         -  ^. 

♦Pinckney 

18, 

Capt.  Hayward.           ^ 

Retaliation 

14, 

Lieut.  Com.  Bainbridge. 

'■  ♦Pickering, 

14, 

Lieut.  Com.  Preble. 

♦Eagle 

14, 

"      Campbell. 

♦Scammel 

14, 

«     Adams.        * 

♦Gov.  Jay 

14, 

"     Leonard. 

♦Virginia 

14, 

«     Bright,        ^' 

♦Diligence 

12, 

"     Brown. 

♦South  Carolina  12, 

«     Payne. 

^  ♦Gen.  Greene 

10, 

"     Price. 

m^ 


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fi^ 


frAVAL  HISTORT., 


t;.. 


■;** 


370 


Of  these  vessels,  those  marked  with  an  asterisk,  were 
built  expressly  for  the  public  service,  while  the  remainder, 
with  the  exception  of  the  Retaliation,  captured  from  the 
French,  were  purchased.  The  vessels  rating  20  and  24 
guns,  were  old  fashioned  sloops,  with  gun  decks,  and  car- 
ried,  in  general,  long  nines  and  sixes.  The  smaller  vessels 
were  deep  waisted,  like  the  modern  corvette,  and  carried 
light  long  guns.  Even  the  frigates  had,  as  yet,  no  carro- 
nades  in  their  armaments,  their  quarter-deck  and  forecas- 
tie  batteries  being  long  twelves  and  nines.  The  carro- 
nade  was  not  introduced  into  the  service,  until  near  the 
close  of  this  contest.  ;  :         ^■.  ,       .  /         -     %"> 

Besides  the  vessels  named  in  the  foregoing  list,  many 
more  were .  already  laid  down ;  and  so  great  was  the 
zeal  of  the  commercial  towns,  in  particular,  that  no  less 
than  two  frigates,  and  five  large  sloops  were  building  by 
subscription,  in  the  different  principal  ports  of  the  country. 
In  addition  to  this  force,  must  be  enumerated  eight  large 
galleys,  that  were  kept  on  the  southern  coast,  to  defend 
their  inlets.        -    '  ■■  ''  :  ^  ;^ 

The  sudden  exhibition  of  so  many  cruisers  in  the  West 
Indies,  appears  to  have  surprised  the  British,  as  well  as  the 
common  enemy ;  and,  while  the  men  of  war  of  Great  Bri- 
tain, on  the  whole,  treated  their  new  allies  with  sufficient 
cordiality,  instances  were  not  wanting,  in  which  a  worse 
feeling  was  shown,  and  a  very  questionable  policy  pursued 
towards  them.  The  most  flagrant  instance  of  the  sort  that 
took  place,  occurred  in  the  autumn  of  this  year,  off  the  port 
of  Havana,  and  calls  for  a  conspicuous  notice,  in  a  work  of 
this  character.  -  •  -^  ^    '  ^?^:/ 

On  the  morning  of  the  16th  November,  1798,  a  squadron 
of  British  ships  was  made  from  the  United  States  sloop  of 
war,  Baltimore  20,  Capt.  Phillips,  then  in  charge  of  a  con- 
voy, bound  from  Charleston  to  the  Havana.  At  the  time, 
the  Moro  was  in  sight,  and  knowing  that  the  English 


¥ 


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A'- 


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:-'4.; 


880 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


Ht- 


■^ 


'%■>  ■ 


cruisers  in  those  seas,  were  in  the  habit  of  pursuing  a  vexa- 
tious course  towards  the  American   merchantmen,  Capt. 
Phillips,  as  soon  as  he  had  ascertained  the  characters  of  the 
strangers,  made  a  signal  to  his  convoy  to  carry  sail  hard, 
in  order  to  gain  their  port,  bearing  up  in  the  Baltimore,  at 
the  same  time,  to  speak  the  English  commodore.  The  latter 
was  in  the  Carnatick  74,  with  the  Queen  08,  Thunderer  74, 
Maidstone  32,  and  Greyhound  32,  in  company.  The  English 
ships  cut  oif  three  of  the  convoy,  and  captured  them,  proba-  ;  * 
biy  under  the  plea  of  a  blockade,  or,  some  of  their  own  con- 
structions of  the  rights  of  colonial  trade.  When  the  Baltimore 
joined  the  Carnatick,  Capt.  Loring,  the  commander  of  the 
latter  ship,  and  the  senior  officer  of  the  squadron,  invited  Capt. 
Phillips  to  repair  on  board  his  vessel.    On  complying  with 
this  invitation,  a  conversation  ensued  between  the  two  offi- 
cers, in  which  Capt.  Loring  informed  his  guest  that  he  in- 1\ 
tended  to  take  all  the  men  out  of  the  Baltimore,  that  hdd '  ^^ 
not  regular  American  protections.    Capt.  Phillips  protested 
against  such  a  violation  of  his  flag,  as  an  outrage  on  the 
dignity  of  the  nation  to  which  he  belonged,  and  announced 
his  determination  to  surrender  his  ship,  should  any  such 
proceedings  be  insisted  on. 

Capt.  Phillips  now  returned  on  board  the  Baltimore,  where 
he  found  a  British  lieutenant  in  the  act  of  mustering  the  crew. 
Taking  the  muster  roll  from  his  hand,  Capt.  Phillips  ordered 
the  Carnatick's  officer  to  walk  to  leeward,  and  sent  his  bwn 
people  to  their  quarters.  The  American  commander  now 
found  himself  in  great  doubt,  as  to  the  propriety  of  the  course 
he  ought  to  pursue.  Having  a  legal  gentleman  of  some  repu- 
tation on  board  determined,  however,  to  consult  him,  and 
-  to  be  influence  his  advice.  The  following  facts  appear  to 
have  been  submitted  to  the  consideration  of  this  gentleman. 
The  Baltimore  had  sailed  without  a  commission  on  board 
her,  or  any  paper  whatever,  signed  by  the  President  of  the  "' 
United  States,  and  under  instructions  that  "  the  vessels  of 


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ITAVAL  HISTORY. 


^% 


381 


every  other  nation  (France  excepted,)  are  on  no  account  to 
be  molested;  and  I  wish  particularly  to  impress  on  your 
mind,  that  should  yoa  ever  see  an  American  vessel  captur- 
ed by  the  armed  ship  of  any  nation  at  war,  with  whom  we 
are  at  peace,  you  cannot  lawfully  interfere  to  prevent  the 
capture,  for  it  is  to  be  taken  for  granted,  that  such  nation 
will  compensate  for  such  capture,  if  it  should  prove  to  have 
been  illegally  made."  We  have  quoted  the  whole  of  this 
clause,  that  part  which  is  not,  as  well  as  that  which  is,  per- 
tinent to  the  point  that  influenced  Capt.  Phillips,  in  order 
that  the  reader  may  understand  the  spirit  that  prevailed  in 
the  councils  of  the  nation,  at  that  time.  There  may  be 
some  question  how  far  a  belligerent  can,  with  propriety, 
have  any  authority  over  a  vessel  that  has  been  regularly 
admitted  into  the  convoy  of  a  national  cruiser,  for  it  is  just 
as  reasonable  to  suppose  that  a  public  ship  of  one  nation 
would  not  protect  an  illegality,  by  countenancing  such  a 
fraud,  as  to  suppose  that  a  public  ship  of  another  would  not 
do  violence  to  right  in  her  seizures;  and  an  appeal  to  the 
justice  of  America  to  deliver  up  an  offending  ship  might  be 
made  quite  as  plausibly,  as  an  appeal  to  the  justice  of  Eng- 
land to  restore  an  innocent  ship.  The  papers  of  a  vessel 
under  convoy,  at  all  events,  can  properly  be  examined  no- 
where but  under  the  eyes  of  the  commander  of  the  convoy, 
or  of  his  agent,  in  order  that  the  ship  examined  may  have  the 
benefit  of  his  protecting  care,  should  the  belligerent  feel  dis- 
posed to  abuse  his  authority.  It  will  be  observed,  however, 
that  Capt.  Phillips  had  trusted  more  to  the  sailing  of  his  con- 
voy, than  to  any  principles  of  international  law ;  and  when 
we  inquire  further  into  the  proceedings  of  the  British  com- 
mander, it  will  be  seen  that  this  decision,  while  it  may  not 
have  been  as  dignified  and  firm  as  comported  with  his  official 
station,  was  probably  as  much  for  the  benefit  of  the  inter- 
ests he  was  deputed  to  protect,  as  any  other  course  might 
have  been. 

-  '    24* 


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■%. 


-^ 


jf.y 


383 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


Whatever  may  be  thought  of  the  rights  of  belligerents  in 
regard  to  ships,  there  can  be  no  question  that  the  conduct 
of  the  British  officer,  in  insisting,  under  the  circumstonces, 
on  tailing  any  of  the  Baltimore's  men,  was  totally  unjusti- 
fiable.   The  right  of  impressment  is  a  national,  and  not  an 
international  right,  depending  solely  on  municipal  regula- 
tions, and  in  no  manner  on  public  law;  since  the  latter  can 
confer  no  privileges,  that,  in  their  nature,  are  not  reciprocal. 
International  law  is  founded  on  those  principles  of  public 
good  which  are  common  to  all  forms  of  government,  and  it 
is  not  to  be  tolerated  that  one  particular  community  should 
set  up  usages,  arising  out  of  its  peculiar  situation,  with  an 
attempt  to  exercise  them  at  the  expense  of  those  general 
rules  which  the  civilized  world  has  recognised  as  necessa- 
ry, paramount,  and  just.    No  principle  is  better  settled  than 
the  one  which  declares  that  a  vessel  on  the  high  seas,  for 
all  the  purposes  of  personal  rights,  is  within  the  protection 
of  the.  laws  of  the  country  to  which  she  belongs;  and  Eng- 
land has  no  more  authority  to  send  an  agent  on  board  an 
American  vessel,  so  situated,  to  reclaim  a  deserter,  or  a 
subject,  than  she  can  have  a  right  to  send  a  sheriff's  officer 
to  arrest  a  thief.    If  her  institutions  allow  her  to  insist  on  the 
services  of  a  particular  and  limited  class  of  her  own  sub- 
jects, contrary  to  their  wishes,  it  is  no  affair  of  other  na- 
tions, so  long  as  the  exercise  of  this  extraordinary  regula- 
tion is  confined   to  her  own  jurisdiction;  but  when  she 
attempts  to  extend  it  into  the  legal  jurisdictions  of  other 
communities,  she  not  only  invades  their  privileges  by  vio- 
lating a  conventional  right,  but  she  offends  their  sense  of 
justice  by  making  them  parties  to  the  commission  of  an  act 
that  is  in  open  opposition  to  natural  equity.    In  the  case 
before  us,  the  British  commander,  however,  did  still  more, 
for  he  reversed  all  the  known  and  safe  principles  of  evi- 
dence, by  declaring  that  he  should  put  the  accused  to  the 
proofs  of  their  innocence,  and,  at  once,  assume  that  every 


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NAVAL  HISTORY. 


383 


man  in  the  Baltimore  was  an  Englishman,  who  should  fail 
to  establish  the  fact  that  he  was  an  American. 

Capt.  Phillips,  after  taking  time  to  deliberate,  determined 
to  submit  to  superior  force,  surrender  his  ship,  and  to  refer 
the  matter  to  his  own  government.  The  colours  of  the  Bal- 
timore were  accordingly  lowered;  Capt.  Loring  was  in- 
formed that  the  ship  was  at  his  disposal,  and  fifty-five  of 
the  crew  were  immediately  transferred  to  the  Carnatick. 
After  a  short  delay,  however,  fifty  of  these  men  were  sent 
back,  and  only  five  were  retained.     .        .'  .     -i-i  ■'..•• 

Capt.  Loring  now  made  a  proposition  to  Capt.  Phillips, 
that  was  as  extraordinary  as  any  part  of  his  previous  con- 
duct, by  stating  that  he  had  a  number  of  Americans  in  his 
squadron,  whom  he  would  deliver  up  to  the  flag  of  their 
country,  man  for  man,  in  exchange  for  as  many  English- 
men. These  Americans,  it  is  fair  to  presume,  had  been 
impressed,  and  the  whole  of  these  violent  outrages  on  neu- 
tral rights,  were  closed  by  a  proposal  to  surrender  a  cer- 
tain number  of  American  citizens,  who  were  detained 
against  their  will,  and  in  the  face  of  all  law,  to  fight  battles 
in  which  they  had  no  interest,  if  Capt.  Phillips  would 
weaken  his  crew  by  yielding  an  equal  number  of  English- 
men, who  had  taken  voluntary  service  under  the  American 
fiag,  for  the  consideration  of  a  liberal  bounty  and  ample 
pay. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  that  this  proposition  was 
rejected ;  the  American  commander  possessing  no  more  au- 
thority to  give  up  any  portion  of  his  legal  crew,  in  this 
manner,  than  he  had  to  insist  on  the  services  of  the  Ameri- 
cans wKbm  he  might  receive  in  exchange.  The  British 
squadron  now  made  sail,  carrying  with  them  the  five  men 
and  the  three  ships.  Nothing  remained  for  Capt.  Phillips 
but  to  hoist  his  colours  again,  and  to  proceed  on  his  cruise. 
On  his  return  to  America,  this  oflicer  hastened  to  Philadel- 
phia, and  laid  the  whole  transaction  before  the  government, 


fih 


"yC'^'- 


.^., 


,^ 


384 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


and  on  the  10th  January,  1700,  he  was  dismissed  from  the 
navy  without  trial.  " .-  / ' 

We  look  back  on  this  whole  transaction  with  mortifica- 
tion, regret  and  surprise.  We  feel  deep  mortification  that, 
aAer  the  experience  of  the  contest  of  the  Revolution,  the 
American  character  should  have  fallen  so  low,  that  an  oflicer 
of  any  nation  might  dare  to  commit  an  outrage  as  violent  as 
that  perpetrated  by  the  commander  of  the  Carnatick,  for  it 
is  fair  to  presume  that  no  man  would  incur  its  responsibility 
with  his  own  government,  who  did  not  feel  well  assured 
that  his  superiors  would  think  the  risk  of  a  conflict  with 
America,  more  than  compensated  by  the  advantage  that 
would  be  thus  obtained  in  manning  the  English  fleets ;  ef- 
fectually proving  that  the  prevalent  opinion  of  the  day 
must  have  been,  that  America  was  so  little  disposed  to  in- 
sist on  her  rights,  that  in  preference  to  putting  her  com- 
merce in  jeopardy,  she  would  not  only  yield  her  claim  to 
protect  seamen  under  her  flag  generally,  but  under  that 
pennant  which  is  supposed  more  especially  to  represent  na- 
tional dignity  and  national  honour.  This  opinion  was  un- 
deniably unfounded,  as  regards  the  great  majority  of  the 
Annerican  people,  but  it  was  only  too  true,  in  respect  to  a 
portion  of  them,  who  collected  in  towns,  and  sustained  by 
the  power  of  active  wealth,  have,  in  all  ages  and  in  all 
countries,  been  enabled  to  make  their  particular  passing  in- 
terests temporarily  superior  to  those  eternal  principles  on 
which  nations  or  individuals  can  alone,  with  any  due  reli- 
ance, trust  for  character  and  security.  In  1708,  the  contest 
with  France  was  so  much  the  more  popular  with  the  mer- 
cantile part  of  the  community,  because  it  favoured  trade 
with  England ;  and  some  now  living  may  be  surprised  to 
learn,  that  a  numerous  and  powerful  class  in  the  country, 
were  so  blinded  by  their  interests,  and  perhaps  misled  by 
prejudices  of  a  colonial  origin,  as  actually  to  contend  that 
Great  Britain  had  a  perfect  right  to  seize  her  seamen 


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wherever  she  could  find  them;  a  privilege  that  could  be  no 
more  urged  with  reason,  than  to  insist  that  Great  Britain 
had  an  equal  right  to  exercise  any  other  municipal  power 
that  conflicted  with  general  principles,  on  the  plea  of  pri- 
vate  necessity.  An  act  of  spirited  resistance  at  that  mo- 
ment  might  have  put  a  stop  to  the  long  train  of  similar 
aggressions  that  followed,  and  which,  after  an  age  of  for- 
bearance, finally  produced  all  the  evils  of  the  very  warfare 
that  seems  to  have  been  so  much  apprehended. 

On  this  branch  of  the  subject,  no  more  need  be  said  at 
present,  thau  to  add  that  while  the  British  government  did 
not  appear  disposed  to  defend  the  principle  involved  in  the 
act  of  its  officer,  the  American  so  far  forgot  what  was  due 
to  its  real  interests,  as  not  to  insist  on  an  open  and  signal 
reparation  of  the  wrong. 

The  conduct  of  the  commander  of  the  Baltimore  ought, 
in  a  measure,  to  be  judged  by  the  spirit  of  the  day  in  which 
the  event  occurred,  and  not  by  the  better  feelings  and  sound- 
er notions  that  now  prevail  on  the  same  subject.  Still,  he 
appears  to  have  fallen  into  one  or  two  material  errors.  The 
inference  put  on  the  words  "no  account"  in  his  instruc- 
tions, was  palpably  exaggerated  and  feeble ;  since  it  would 
equally  have  led  him  to  yield  his  ship,  itself,  to  an  attack 
from  an  inferior  force,  should  it  have  suited  the  views  of 
the  commander  of  any  vessel  h^\X  a  Frenchman  to  make 
one;  and  the  case  goes  to  shov.  the  great  importance  of 
possessing  a  corps  of  trained  and  instructed  officers  to  com- 
mand vessels  of  war,  it  being  as  much  a  regular  qualifica- 
tion in  the  accomplished  naval  captain,  to  be  able  to  make 
distinctions  that  shall  render  him  superior  to  sophisms  of 
this  nature,  as  to  work  his  ship. 

The  circumstance  that  there  was  no  commission,  or  anv 
paper  signed  by  the  President  of  the  United  States,  in  the 
Baltimore,  though  certainly  very  extraordinary,  and  going 
to  prove  the  haste  with  which  the  armaments  of  1798  were 


i^ 


-^ 


986 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


made,  ought  to  have  had  no  influence  on  the  decision  of 
Capt.  Phillips,  in  the  presence  of  a  foreign  ship.  Thit  officer 
would  not  have  hesitated  about  defending  his  convoy,  under 
his  instructions  alone,  against  a  Frenchman;  and,  by  a 
similar  rule,  he  ought  not  to  have  hesitated  about  defending 
his  people  against  an  Englishman,  on  the  same  authority. 
Any  defect  in  form,  connected  with  his  papers,  was  a  ques'    ■ 
tion  purely  national,  no  foreign  officer  having  a  right  to 
enter  into  the  examination  of  the  matter  at  all,  so  long  as 
(here  was  sufficient  evidence  to  establish  the  national  cha- 
racter of  the  Baltimore,  which,  in  extremity,  might  have 
been  done  by  the  instructions  themselves;  and  we  see  in 
the  doubts  of  Capt.  Phillips  on  this  head,  the  deficiencies  of 
a  man  educated  in  a  merchantman,  or  a  service  in  which 
clearances  and  registers  are  indispensable  to  legality,  in- 
stead of  the  decision  and  promptitude  of  an  officer  taught  \ 
from  youth  to  rely  on  the  dignity  and  power  of  his  govern- 
ment, and  the  sanctity  of  his  flag.    The  commissions  of  her  . 
officers  do  not  give  to  a  ship  of  war  her  national  character, 
but  they  merely  empower  those  who  hold  them  to  act  in 
their  several  stations;  the  nationality  of  the  vessel  depend-    ,^ 
ing  on  the  simple  facts  of  the  ownership  and  the  duty  ofb^ 
which  she  is  employed.    Nations  create  such  evidence  of 
this  interest  in  their  vessels  as  may  suit  themselves,  nor  can 
foreigners  call  these  provision  in  question,  so  long  as  they 
answer  the  great  ends  for  wh^  they  were  intended. 

Diflfercnt  opinions  have  been  entertained  of  the  propriety  '^ 
of  the  course  taken  by  Capt.  Phillips,  without  reference  to  ^ 
the  grounds  of  his  submission.  By  one  set  of  logicians  he 
is  justifled  in  yielding  without  resistance,  on  account  of  th#g  j, 
overwhelming  force  of  the  English ;  and  by  another  con- 
demned, on  the  plea  that  a  vessel  of  war  should  never  strike 
her  colours  with  her  guns  loaded.  We  think  both  of  these 
distinctions  false,  as  applied  to  this  particular  case ;  and  the 
latter,  as  applied  to  most  others.  When  the  commander  of  a 


•Ir 


w* 


f 


:S[ 


m- 


tf'-- 


Ir 


■*?•« 


■»^ 


^' 


*•«■ 


Sk 


i 


w* 


i 


,  4 


f 


>«#■ 


a 


-f: 


Sri 


•■^v. 


ITAVAL  HISTORY. 


967 


veuel  of  war  sees  no  means  of  escape  from  capture,  nothing 
is  gained,  either  to  his  nation  or  himself,  by  merely  firing  a 
broadside  and  hauling  down  his  colours.  So  far  from  being 
an  act  of  spirit,  it  is  the  reverse,  unless  we  concede  some- 
thing to  the  force  of  prejudice,  since  it  is  hazarding  the  lives 
of  others,  without  risking  his  own,  or  those  of  his  crew ;  for, 
to  pretend  that  Capt.  Phillips  should  not  only  have  dis- 
charged his  guns,  but  have  stood  the  fire  of  the  Carnatick, 
is  to  affirm  that  an  officer  ought  to  consummate  an  act  of 
injustice  in  others,  by  an  act  of  extreme  folly  of  his  owot 
We  think,  however,  that  Capt.  Phillips  erred  in  not  resisting 
in  a  manner  that  was  completely  within  his  power.  When 
he  took  the  muster-roll  from  the  hands  of  the  English  lieute- 
nant, and  called  his  people  to  quarters,  he  became  master  of 
his  own  ship,  and  might  have  ordered  the  Carnatick's  boat 
to  leave  it,  with  a  message  to  Capt.  Loring,  expressive  of 
his  determintion  to  defend  himself.  The  case  was  not  one 
of  war,  in  which  there  was  a  certainty  that,  resisting,  he 
would,  be  assailed,  hut  an  efiort  on  the  part  of  the  com- 
mander of  a  ship  belonging  to  a  friendly  power,  to  push  ag- 
gression to  a  point  that  no  one  but  himself  could  know.  An 
attempt  to  board  the  Baltimore  in  boats  might  have  been 
resisted,  and  successfully  even,  when  credit  instead  of  dis- 
credit would  have  been  reflected  on  the  service ;  and  did 
the  Carnatick  open  her  fir^^all  question  of  blame,  as  re- 
spects Capt.  Phillips,  would  lave  been  immediately  settled. 
It  may  bo  9iuch  doubted  if  the  British  officer  would  have 
had  recourse  to  so  extreme  a  measure,  under  such  circum- 
stances; and  if  he  had,  something  would  have  been  gained, 
by  at  once  placing  the  open  hostility  of  a  vastly  superior 
force,  between  submission  and  disgrace.  .    < 

^  Neither  was  the  course  pursued  by  the  government  free 
from  censure.  It  is  at  all  times  a  dangerous,  and  in  scarce- 
ly no  instance  a  necessary,  practice,  to  cashier  an  officer 


^'imS^ 


^■?^'- 


•pi. 


'.m 


'. ./ 


"T*- 


i«i|ii 


*f 


'    I 


-< 


!f 


286 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


without  trial.  Cases  of  misconduct  so  flagrant,  may  cer* 
tainly  occur,  as  to  justify  the  executive  in  resorting  to  the 
prompt  use  of  the  removing  power;  as  for  cowardice  in  the 
open  field,  in  presence  of  the  commander-in-chief,  when  dis- 
grace in  face  of  the  army  or  fleet,  might  seem  as  appro- 
priate as  promotion  for  conduct  of  the  opposite  kind ;  but, 
as  a  rule,  no  military  man  should  suffer  this  heavy  penally 
without  having  the  benefit  of  a  deliberate  and  solemn  inves- 
tigation, and  the  judgment  of  those  who,  by  their  expe- 
rience, may  be  supposed  to  be  the  most  competent  to  decide 
on  his  conduct.  The  profession  of  an  officer  is  the  business 
of  a  life,  and  tho  utmost  care  of  his  interests  and  character, 
is  the  especial  duty  of  thoso  who  are  called' to  preside  over 
his  destinies,  in  a  civil  capacity.  In  the  case  before  us,  we 
learn  the  danger  of  precipitation  and  misconception  in  such 
matters,  the  reason  given  by  the  secretary  for  the  dismissal 
of  Capt.  Phillips  being  contradicted  by  the  facts,  as  they  are 
now  understood.  In  the  communication  of  that  functionary 
to  tho  degraded  officer,  the  latter  was  charged  with  "  tame 
submission  to  the  orders  of  the  British  lieutenant,  on  board 
your  own  ship  ;*'  whereas,  it  is  alleged  on  the  part  of  Capt. 
Phillips,  that  he  did  not  permit  the  English  officer  to  muster 
his  crew,  but  that  the  act  was  performed  while  he  himself 
was  on  board  the  Carnatick.     '         •       "^  ■    .  '   „  ; 

As  recently  as  the  year  ISJfO,  an  attempt  was  made  to 
revive  an  investigation  of  this  subject,  and  to  restore  Capt. 
Phillips  to  his  rank.  It  is  due  tu  that  officer  to  say,  many  of 
the  facts  were  found  to  be  much  more  in  his  favour  than 
had  been  generally  believed,  and  that  the  investigation, 
while  it  failed  in  its  principal  object,  tended  materially  to 
relieve  his  name  from  the  opprobrium  under  which  it  had 
previously  rested.  Although  many  still  think  he  erred  in 
judgment,  it  is  now  the  general  impression  that  his  mistakes 
were  the  results  of  a  want  of  experience,  and  perhaps  of  the 


^: 


w 


-#=" 


•A 


»- 


■.*' 


,^ 


■^■' 


''^^  . 


f. 


f 


// 


KAVAb  HItTOftY. 


869 


opinions  of  the  day,  rathor  thnn  of  any  want  of  a  suitable 
disposition  to  defend  the  honour  of  the  flag.  The  punish- 
ment inflictjcd  on  him,  appears  to  have  been  as  unnccessa- 
rily  severe,  as  it  was  indiscreet  in  its  manner;  and  if  we 
may  set  down  the  outrage  os  a  fault  of  the  times,  wo  may 
also  add  to  the  same  calaluguo  of  errors,  most  of  the  other 
distinctive  features  of  the  entire  proceedings. 
■  It  has  been  stated  that  the  privateer  Le  Croyable  14, 
captured  by  the  Delaware  20,  had  been  taken  into  the  ser- 
vice,  under  the  name  of  the  Retaliation.  In  November,  1798, 
or  about  the  time  that  the  Carnatick  impressed  the  men  of 
the  Baltimore,  the  Montezuma  20,  Capt.  Murray,  Norfolk 
18,  Capt.  Williams,  and  Retaliation  12,  Lieut.  Com.  Bain- 
bridge,  were  cruising  in  company  off  Guadaloupe,  when 
three  sails  were  made  to  the  eastward,  and  soon  after  two 
more  to  the  Wv^^tward.  Capt.  Murray,  who  was  the  senior 
officer,  was  led  to  suppose,  from  circumstances,  that  the 
vessels  in  the  eastern  board  were  British,  and  speaking  the 
Retaliation,  he  ordered  Lieut.  Bainbridge  to  reconnoitre 
them,  while,  with  the  Norfolk  in  company,  he  gave  chase, 
hinMelf,  in  the  Montezuma,  to  the  two  vessels  to  the  west- 
ward. The  Retaliation,  in  obedience  to  these  orders,  imme- 
diately hauled  up  towards  the  three  strangers,  and  getting 
near  enough  for  signals,  she  made  her  own  number,  with  a 
view  to  ascertain  if  they  were  Americans.  Finding  that  he 
was  not  understood,  Lieut.  BainbriHge  mistook  the  strangers 
for  English  cruisers,  knowing  that  several  were  on  the  sta- 
tion, and  unluckily  permitted  them  to  approach  so  near,  that 
when  their  real  characters  were  ascertained,  it  was  too  late 
to  escape.  The  leading  ship,  a  French  frigate,  was  an  un- 
commonly fast  sailer,  and  she  was  soon  near  enough  to 
open  her  fire.  It  was  not  long  before  another  frigate  came 
up,  when  the  Retaliation  was  compelled  to  lower  her  flag. 
Thus  did  this  unlucky  vessel  become  the  first  cruiser  taken 
by  both  parties,  in  this  war.  The  frigates  by  which  the 
Vol.  I— 25 


i 


;M 


"4 


■  .Av. 


.  *■ 


7' .;%    • 


290 


MAVAL  Hiavonr. 


If-    . 


f;*! 


'SI* 


Ketaliation  was  captured,  proved  to  be  the  Volontaire  36, 
and  the  Insurgente  32,  the  former  carrying  44,  and  the  lat- 
latter  40  guns.  Mr.  Bainbridge  was  put  on  board  the  Vo- 
lontaire, while  the  Insurgente,  perceiving  that  the  schooner 
was  safe  with  the  former,  continued  to  carry  sail  in  chase 
of  the  Montezuma  and  Norfolk.  As  soon  as  a  prize  crew 
could  be  thrown  into  the  Retaliation,  the  Volontaire  crowded 
sail  to  join  her  consort.  The  chase  now  became  exceed- 
ingly interesting,  the  two  American  vessels  being  fully 
aware,  by  the  capture  of  the  schooner,  that  they  had  to 
deal  with  an  enemy.  The  Insurgente  was  one  of  the  fastest 
ships  in  the  world,  and  her  commander  an  officer  of  great 
skill  and  resolution.  The  two  American  vessels  were  small 
for  their  rates,  and,  indeed,  were  overrated,  the  Montezuma 
being  a  little  ship  of  only  347  tons,  and  the  Norfolk  a  brig 
of  200.  Their  armaments  were  merely  nines  and  sixe%; 
shot  that  would  be  scarcely  regarded  in  a  conflict  with  fri- 
gates. The  officers  of  the  Volontaire  collected  on  the  fore- 
castle of  their  ship  to  witness  tbe  chase,  and  the  Insurgente 
being,  by  this  time,  a  long  way  ahead,  Capt.  St.  Laurent, 
the  commander  of  the  Volontaire,  asked  Mr.  Bainbridge, 
who  was  standing  near  him,  what  might  be  the  force  of  the 
two  American  vessels.  With  great  presence  of  mind,  Mr. 
Bainbridge  answered  without  hesitation,  that  the  ship  car- 
ried 28  twelves,  and  the  brig  20  nines.  As  this  account 
quite  doubled  the  force  of  the  Americans,  Capt.  St.  Laurent, 
who  was  senior  to  the  commander  of  the  Insurgent^  imme- 
diately threw  out  a  signal  to  the  latter  to  relinquish  the 
chase.  This  was  an  unmilitary  order,  even  admitting  the 
fact  to  have  been  as  stated,  for  the  Insurgente  would  have 
been  fully  able  to  employ  two  such  vessels  until  the  Volon- 
taire could  come  up:  but  the  recent  successes  of  the  English 
had  rendered  the  French  cruisers  wary,  and  the  Americans 
and  English,  as  seamen,  were  probably  identified  in  the 
minds  of  the  enemy.    The  signal  caused  as  much  surprise 


n^ 


* 


.  t^* 


* 


J 


•■ 

^■ 

> 

i 

m 

#."- 


M'-^' 


"'^m^r 


% 


VATAL  HISTORY. 


291 


ii 


-1* 


.,/  -^ 


i>^ 


\ 


..#■'■ 


K'jr 


-.4» 


>v 


"x^^' 


''^' 


mK- 


to  Capt.  Murray,  in  the  Monlezuma,  as  to  Capt  Barreault, 
of  the  Insurgente,  for  the  latter,  an  excellent  and  spirited 
officer,  had  got  so  near  his  chases  as  to  have  made  out  their 
force,  and  to  feel  c<*rtain  of  capturing  both.  The  signal 
was  obeyed,  however,  and  the  Moutezunia  and  Norfolk 
escaped.  ^'^t  ^,4.^ti^ 

When  the  two  French  vessels  joined  each  other,  Capl. 
Barreault  naturally  expressed  his  surprise  at  having  been 
recalled  under  such  circumstances.  An  explanation  fol- 
lowed, when  the  ruse  that  had  been  practised  by  Mr.  Bain- 
bridge  was  discovered.  It  is  to  the  credit  of  the  French 
officers,  that,  while  they  were  much  vexed  at  the  results  of 
this  artifice,  they  never  visited  the  offender  with  their  dis- 
pleasure. 

ii  It  is  one  of  the  curious  incidents  of  this  singular  contest, 
that  a  proposition  was  made  to  Mr.  Bainbridge,  by  the 
governor  of  Guadaloupe,  into  which  place  the  two  French, 
frigates  went  with  their  prize,  to  restore  the  Retaliation,  a 
vessel  captured  from  ihe  French  themselves,  and  to  liberate 
her  crew,  provided  he  would  stipulate  that  the  island  should 
remain  neutral  during  the  present  state  of  things.  This  pro- 
position Mr.  Bainbridge  had  no  authority  to  accept,  and  the 
termination  of  a  long  and  prevaricating  negotiation  on  the 
part  of  the  governor,  whose  object  was  probably  to  enrich 
his  particular  command,  or  himself,  by  possessing  a  mono- 
poly of  the  American  trade  for  a  time,  was  to  send  the 
Retaliation  back  to  America  as  a  cartel ;  for,  now  that  the 
United  States  had  taken  so  bold  a  stand,  the  French  go- 
vernment appeared  even  less  anxious  than  our  own,  to 
break  out  into  open  war.  On  the  arrival  of  Mr.  Bainbridge 
in  this  country,  his  conduct  received  the  approbation  of  the 
administration,  and  he  was  immediately  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  master  commandant,  and  appointed  to  the  Norfolk 
18,  one  of  the  vessels  he  had  saved  from  the  enemy  by  his 
presence  of  mind.  ^~  - 


*■  '^ 


I**" 


**■■' 


■■W-' 


-^» 


M' 


"A. 


M' 


f' 


Si02 


VAVAL  HISTORY. 


The  efforts  of  the  governpr  of  Guadaloupe  to  obtain  a 
neutrality  for  his  own  island,  had  been  accompanied  by 
some  acts  of  severity  towards  his  prisoners,  into  which  he 
had  suffered  himself  to  be  led)  apparently  with  the  hope  that, 
it  might  induce  Mr.  Bainbridge  to  accept  his  propositions; 
and  that  officer  now  reported  the  whole  of  the  proceedings 
to  his  own  government.  The  result  was  an  act  authorizing 
retaliation  on  the  persons  of  Frenchmen,  should  there  be 
any  recurrence  of  similar  wrongs.  This  law  gave  rise  to 
some  of  the  earliest  of  those  disgraceful  party  dissensions 
which,  in  the  end,  reduced  the  population  of  the  whole  coun- 
try, with  very  few  exceptions,  to  be  little  more  than  par- 
tisans of  either  French  or  English  aggressions. 

The  United  States  44,  and  Delaware  20,  captured  the 
privateers  Sans  Pareil  16,  and  Jaloux  14,  in  the  course  of 
the  autumn,  and  sent  them  in.  \ 

Thus  terminated  the  year  1708,  though  the  return  of  the 
Retaliation  did  not  occur  until  the  commencement  of  1700, 
leaving  the  United  States  with  a  hastily  collected,  an  imper- 
fectly organized,  and  unequally  disciplined  squadron  of  ships, 
it  is  tfue.;  but  a  service  that  contained  the  germ  of  all  that 
is  requisite  to  make  an  active,  an  efficient  and  a  glorious 
marine.  >  ...,- 


Vru- 


\  }'--. 

-.!4    _ 

«   .    .' 

'  i " 

'■i'i;- 

1  u'  •  :."'.' 

# 

:  ;^ 

'•     ':     -   '• 

■.;:■';--. 

^.,:^;r.,    ;, 

■^^ 

H 

V  ,  '; 

.  /-    - .. 

•'r#   *    ,. 

.:  .i«i:.4 

S'* 

:--^f.- 

■*?■  '■ 

'(  ■■ 

»* 


I  •■  ?-'% 


'  ) 


,i^^-i•,-i'^ 


■-..'.■•:.fr'   v>^V?^l!*.^  '*,.^t 


-• '«•!«..    **:■ 


1  ^  * ,_.  "J 


'  iy^^m  'V-i 


' 


^^ 


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i* 


\.'*<« 


MAVAL  HUTMr. 


/'/ 


jV.'S 


'•ti' 


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f- 


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,.  "  i". 


.*sr! 


# 


'^/Jis 


CHAPTER  XVI. 


.-X..-''"  ■ 


^HH  year  1700  opened  with  no  departure  from  the  policy 
laid  down  by  the  government,  and  the  building  and  equip- 
ments of  the  different  ships  in  various  parts  of  the  country, 
were  pressed  with  as  much  diligence  as  the  public  resources 
would  then  allow.  In  the  course  of  this  season,  many  ves- 
sels were  launched,  and  most  of  them  got  to  sea  within  the 
year.  Including  all,  those  that  were  employed  in  1798,  those 
that  were  put  in  commission  early  in  the  ensuing  year,  and 
those  that  were  enabled  to  quit  port  nearer  to  its  close,  the 
entire  active  naval  force  of  the  United  States,  in  1790,  would 
seem  to  have  been  composed  of  the  following  vessels,  viz: 


United  States 

44, 

Delaware 

20, 

Constitution 

44, 

Baltimore 

20, 

Congress 

38, 

Patapsco 

20, 

Constellation 

88, 

Maryland 

20. 

Essex 

32, 

Herald 

18, 

General  Greene 

28, 

Norfolk 

18, 

Boston 

28, 

Richmond 

18, 

Adams 

28, 

Pinckney 

18, 

John  Adams 

28, 

Warren 

18, 

Portsmouth 

24, 

Eagle 

14, 

Connecticut 

24. 

.„  Pickering 

14, 

Ganges 

24, 

■*     Augusta 

14, 

Geo.  Washington  34, 

Scammel 

14, 

Merrimack 

24, 

Enterprise 

12. 

26« 


^^ 


■M 


v» 


^^^ 


.'3#^ 


i^^ 


^■' 


294 


NAVAL  HMTORr. 


To  these  must  be  added  a  few  revenue  vessels,  though 
most  of  this  description  of  cruisers  appear  to  have  been  kept 
on  the  coast  throughout  this  year.  As  yet,  the  greatest 
confusion  and  irregularity  prevailed  in  the  rating,  no  uni- 
form system  appearing  to  have  been  adopted.  The  vessels 
built  by  the  different  cities,  and  presented  to  the  public,  in 
particular,  were  rated  too  high,  from  a  natural  desire  to 
make  the  offering  as  respectable  as  possible ;  and  it  does 
not  appear  to  have  been  thought  expedient,  on  the  part  of 
the  government,  prematurely  to  correct  the  mistakes.  But 
the  department  itself  was  probably  too  little  instructed  to 
detect  the  discrepancies,  and  some  of  them  continued  to 
exist  as  long  as  the  ships  themselves.  It  may  help  the 
reader  in  appreciating  the  characters  of  the  different  ves- 
sels, if  we  explain  some  of  these  irregularities,  as  a  speci- 
men of  the  whole.  \  \ 

The  United  States  and  Constitution,  as  has  been  else- 
where said,  were  large  ships,  with  batteries  of  30  twenty- 
four  pounders  on  their  gun-decks,  and  were  appropriately 
rated  as  forty-fours.  The  Congress  and  Constellation  were 
such  ships  as  the  English  were  then  in  the  practice  of  ra- 
ting as  thirty-eights,  being  eighteen-pounder.  frigates,  of  the 
largest  size.  The  Essex  was  the  only  ship  in  the  navy  that 
was  properly  rated  as  a'  thirty-two,  having  a  main-deck 
battery  of  26  twelves,  though  she  was  a  large  vessel  of  her 
class.  The  John  Adams,  General  Greene,  Adams  and 
Boston,  were  such  ships  as  the  British  had  been  accustomed 
to  rate  as  twenty-eights,  and  the  two  latter  were  small  ships 
of  this  denomination.  The  George  Washington,  though  she 
appears  as  only  a  twenty-four,  while  the  Boston  figured  as  a 
thirty-two,  was,  as  near  as  can  now  be  ascertained  by  the  offi- 
cially reported  tonnage,  more  than  a  fourth  larger  than  the 
latter  ship.  Indeed,  it  may  be  questioned  if  the  Boston 
ought  to  have  been  rated  higher  than  a  twenty-four,  the 
Connecticut  which  was  thus  classed,  being  thirty  tons  lar- 


nt 


;f 


■,-*.»■ 


■^-: 


5^" 


■k'r  1 


■a 


'^< 


■'^T. 


M 


/  !•'■ 


HAVAL  BISTORT. 


20ft 


\     • 


■k 


'%:■■ 


'•    \ 


.|j-. 


e 
n 
e 


■*, 


;«, 


•1»rv 


ger.  It  ought,  however,,  to  be  remarked,  that  difierences 
in  the  rule  of  measuring  tonnage,  had  prevailed  in  difierent 
colonies  among  the  shipwrights,  as  they  are  known  still  to 
exist  in  different  nations,  and  it  is  probable  that  some  con- 
fusion may  have  entered  into  these  reports,  in  consequence 
of  the  want  of  uniformity.  It  may  be  added,  that  the 
smaller  vessels  generally  were  light  of  their  respective 
rates,  and  were  by  no  means  to  be  estimated  by  those  of 
similar  rates,  at  the  present  day.  -    i 

At  the  close  of  the  vcar  1708,  the  active  force  in  the 
West-Indies  had  been  distributed  into  four  separate  squad- 
rons, in  the  following  manner. 

One  squadron  under  Com.  Barry,  who  was  the  senior 
officer  of  the  service,  cruised  to  windward,  running  as  far 
south  as  Tobago,  and  consisted  of  the  vessels  about  to  be 
named,  viz: 

United  States  44,  Com.  Barry.  >  :    ;       .^4^ 

Constitution  44,  Capt.  Nicholson.  •  m^^      }:'0' 

George  Washington  24,     "     Fletcher,     ■^'m      /,  ■> 


i* 


Merrimack 

Portsmouth 

Herald 

Pickering  ..; 

Eagle 

Scammel  l 

Diligence 


« 


t^' 


A 


Brown. 

24,     «     M'Niell. 

18,  Master  Com.  Russel. 

14,  Lieut.  Com.  Preble. 

14,  «  Campbell. 

14,  "  Adamsi 

12,  «  Brown. 

This  force  was  now  kept  actively  employed,  the  ships 
passing  from  point  to  point,  with  orders  to  make  a  general 
rendezvous  at  Prince  Rupert's  Bay.  This  squadron  made 
several  captures,  principally  of  privateers,  and  as  none  of 
them  were  accompanied  by  incidents  deserving  of  particu- 
lar mention,  they  may  be  recorded  together,  though  occur- 
ring at  different  periods.  The  United  States  44,  Com.  Barry, 
captured  I'Amour  de  la  Patrie  6,  with  80  men,  and  le  Tar- 
tuffe  8,  with  60  men.    The  Merrimack  24,  Capt  Brown, 


.     .#■ 


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206 


HAVAL  HMTOET. 


la  Magicienne  14,  with  63  men,  and  le  Bonaparte.  The 
Portsmouth  24,  Capt.  M'Niell,  le  Fripon,  and  TAmi  6,  with 
16  men.  The  Eagle  14,  Capt.  Campbell,  le  Bon  Pdre  6, 
with  52  men. 

A  second  squadron,  under  the  orders  of  Capt  Truxtun, 
had  its  rendezvous  at  St.  Kitts,  and  cruised  as  far  to  lee- 
ward as  Porto  Rico.    It  consisted  of  the 

Constellafton  38,  Com.  Truxtun.       '  ^    '.:  ;   .i-i* 
Baltimore       20,  Capt  Phillips.  X-  *::. 

\' .       Richmond      18,     •♦     S.  Barron.  ^    "^   ," 

Norfolk  18,     "     Williams.  1/.   •   -:- 

Virginia  14,     "     Bright  ..^.     .>  *• 

The  Baltimore  took  I'Esperance,  and  was  present  at  the 
capture  of  la  Sirdne  4,  with  36  men.  This  ship  was  put 
under  the  command  of  Capt  Barron,  soon  after  the  dis- 
missal of  Capt  Phillips  from  the  service,  and  before  the 
close  of  the  season  was  commanded  by  Capt  Cowper. 
The  Constellation  took  la  Diligente  and  I'Union. 

A  small  force  under  the  orders  of  Capt  Tingey,  watched 
the  passage  between  Cuba  and  St  Domingo.  It  consisted 
of  the  ,    "^   V'    "'■ 

Ganges  24,  Capt  Tingey.  1-, 

Pinckney  18,     ••     Hay  ward. 

South  Carolina  12,     "      Payne. 

The  Ganges  took  le  Vengeur  6,  la  Rabateuse,  I'Eugene, 
and  I'Esperance  8. 

The  Delaware  20,  Capt  Decatur,  with  the  revenue  vttl- 
sels  Governor  Jay  14,  and  General  Greene  10,  was  directed 
to  cruise  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Havana,  to  protect  the  trade 
on  the  coast  of  Cuba.  The  Delaware  captured  the  Marsuin 
10,  and  the  same  ship,  later  in  the  season,  under  the  orders 
<^  Capt  Baker,  took  le  Renard  and  TOcean.  The  Mon- 
tezuma 20,  Capt  Murray,  after  the  capture  of  the  Retalia- 
tion, and  the  return  of  the  Norfolk  18,  to  America,  cruised 
some  time  alone,  taking  a  small  privateer  of  six  guns. 


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Although  the  year  commenced  with  this  disposition  of 
the  vessels,  many  changes  occurred,  as  the  new  ships  were 
got  to  sea,  and  particularly  on  account  of  the  great  mistake 
of  shipping  the  crews  for  a  term  as  short  as  one  year.  It 
.  followed,  of  course,  that  the  vessels  which  sailed  in  July  and 
August  1708,  for  the  West  India  station,  if  called  there  by 
no  other  cause,  were  compelled  to  return  home  in  the  sum< 
mer  of  1799,  to  discharge  their  crews,  and  to  obtain  others 
in  their  places.  It  was  fortunate  that  the  spirit  of  the  times, 
the  absence  of  privateers,  and  an  abundance  of  men,  in  some 
measure,  remedied  this  defect,  and  that  the  delays  it  caused 
were  not  as  material  as  might  have  been  otherwise  appro- 
bended.  ">.  •  h 

On  the  9th  of  February,  the  Constellation  38,  Com.  Trux- 
tun,  was  cruising  on  her  prescribed  ground,  Nevis,  bearing 
W.  S.  W.,  distant  five  leagues,  when  she  made  a  large  ship 
in  the  southern  board.  The  Constellation  being  to  wind- 
ward at  the  moment.  Com.  Truxtun  ran  down  towards  tl)e 
stranger,  who  now  set  American  colours,  when  the  private 
signals  were  shown.  As  the  chase  was  unable  to  answer, 
he  seemed  to  think  further  disguise  unnecessary,  for  he 
hoisted  the  French  ensign,  and  fired  a  gun  to  windward,  by 
way  of  a  challenge,  keeping  under  easy  sail,  to  invite  the 
contest.  This  was  the  first  opportunity  that  had  occurred 
since  the  close  of  the  Revolution,  for  an  American  vessel  of 
war  to  get  along  side  of  an  enemy,  of  a  force  likely  to  run- 
c&r  a  combat  certain,  and  the  officers 'and  men  of  the  Con- 
stellation displayed  the  greatest  eagerness  to  engage.  On 
the  other  hand,  the  stranger  betrayed  no  desire  to  disappoint 
his  enemy,  waiting  gallantly  for  her  to  come  down.  When 
the  Constellation  had  got  abeam  of  the  French  frigate,  and 
so  near  as  to  have  been  several  times  hailed,  she  opened  h^ 
fire,  which  was  returned  promptly  and  with  spirit.  The 
Constellation  drew  gradually  ahead,  both  ships  maintaining 
a  fierce  cannonade.    The  former  sufifered  most  in  her  sails 


■>■*' 


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MAVAL  HUTORT. 


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and  rigging,  and  vrhile  under  the  heaviest  of  the  fire  of  her 
iiitagonist,  the  fore-top-mast  was  badly  wounded*  quite  near 
the  .lower  cap.  The  fore-top  was  commanded  by  Mr.'  David 
Porter,  a  midshipman  of  great  promise,  and  finding  that  his 
hails  to  communicate  this  important  circumstance  were  dis- 
regarded, in  the  heat  of  the  combat,  this  young  officer  took 
on  himself  the  responsibility  of  cutting  the  stoppers  and  of 
lowering  the  yard.  By  thus  relieving  the  spar  of  the  pres- 
sure  of  the  sail,  he  prevented  the  fall  of  the  top-mast  and  all 
its  hamper.  In  the  mean  time  the  weight  and  effect  of  the 
fire  were  altogether  in  favour  of  the  Constellation,  and  not- 
withstanding the  injury  received  in  her  fore-top-mast,  that 
ship  was  soon  able  to  throw  in  two  cr  three  raking  broad- 
sides, which  decided  the  combat  After  maintaining  a 
close  contest,  in  this  manner,  of  about  an  hour,  the  Constel- 
lation shot  out  of  the  smoke,  wore  round,  and  hauling 
athwart  her  antagonist's  stern  was  ready  again  with  every 
gliin  to  rake  her,  when  the  enemy  struck. 

The  prize  proved  to  be  the  French  frigate  I*fiisurgente, 
Capt.  Barreault,  the  vessel  that  has  already  been  mention- 
ed, as  having  captured  the  Retaliation,  and  chasing  the 
Montezuma  and  Norfolk,  and  one  of  the  fastest  ships  in  the 
world.  She  was  much  cut  up,  and  had  sustained  a  loss  of 
70  men,  in  killed  and  wounded;  29  of  the  former,  and  41  of 
the  latter.  The  Constellation,  besides  the  loss  of  the  foretop- 
nfast,  which  had  to  be  shifted,  was  much  damaged  alp£L 
suffering  no  material  injury  in  her  hull,  however,  and  MH 
only  3  atien  wounded.  Among  the  latter,  was  Mr.  James 
M*Donough,  a  midshipman,  who  had  a  foot  shot  off.  Early 
in  the  combat,  one  of  the  men  flinched  from  his  gun,  and 
he  warinstantly  killed  by  the  third  lieutenant,  to  whose  di- 
Xision  he  belonged. 

The  Insurgente*s  armament  consisted  of  40  guns,  French 
twelves,  on  her  main  deck  battery,  and  her  compliment  of 
men  was  400.    She  was  a  ship  a  little  heavier  than  a  regu- 


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ITAVAL  HISTORY. 


■h 


lar  82,  which  would  probably  have  been  her  rate  in  (^ 

i<J<^  English    marine,  although   a  French  twelve-pound  ihot 

weighs  nearly  thirteen  English  pounds.  On  this  occasion,  the 

.    Constellation  is  said  to  have  carried  but  38  guns,  twelve  lesi 

,    than  have  been  put  upon  her  since  the  introduction  of  carro* 

nades,  and  she  had  a  crew  of  309  men.    But  the  main-deck 

battery  of  the  Constellation  was  composed  of  twenty-fours, 

a  gun  altogether  too  heavy  for  her  size  and  strength,  and 

from  which  she  was  relieved  at  the  termination  of  this 

cruise,  by  exchanging  her  armament  for  eighteens.* 

The  result  of  this  engagement  produced  great  exulta- 
tion in  America,  and  it  was  deemed  a  proof  of  an  aptitude 
to  nautical  service,  that  was  very  grateful  to  the  national 
pride.    Without  pausing  to  examine  details,  the  country 
claimed  it  as  a  victory  of  a  38  over  a  40 ;  and  the  new  ma- 
rine was,  at  once,  proclaimed  to  be  equal  to  any  in  the 
world;  a  decision  somewhat  hazardous  when  made  on  a 
single  experiment,  and  which  was  certainly  formed  without 
^    a  full  understanding  of  the  whole  subject.    It  is  due  to  a 
gallant  enemy,  to  say  that  Capt.  Barreault,  who  defended 
"^     his  ship  as  long  as  there  was  a  hope  of  succejs,  was  over- 
come by  a  superior  force;  and  it  is  also  due  to  Com.  Trux- 
.    tun,  and  to  those  under  his  command,  to  add  that  they  did  ' 
their  work  with  an  expedition  and  cfTecc  every  way  pro- 
I      portioned  to  the  disparity  in  their  favour.   There  is  scarce- 
\'    ^^'^  instance  on  record,  (we  are  not  certain  there  is  one,) 
'     oi^  full  manned  frigate,  carrying  twelves,  prevailing  In  a 
contest  with  even  a  ship  of  eighteens ;  and,  in  this  in- 
stance, we  see  that  the  Insurgente  had  twenty-fours  to  op- 
pose.   Victory  was  next  to  hopeless,  under  such  circum- 
stances, though,  on  the  other  hand,  we  are  not  to  overlook 
:^    the  readiness  with  which  a  conflict  with  arft  unknown  an% 


,iii 


*  See  note  B,  end  of  Tolume. 


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800 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


.' 


I. 


tagonist  was  sought,  and  the  neatness  and  despatch  with 
which  the  battle  was  won. 

The  Insurgente  struck  about  half  past  three  in  the  after- 
noon, and  Mr.  Rodgers,*  the  first  lieutenant  of  the  Constel- 
lation, together  with  Mr.  Porter,t  and  eleven  men,  were 
thrown  on  board  her,  to  take  possession,  and  to  superin- 
tend the  removal  of  the  prisoners.  It  now  began  to  blow, 
and  when  the  darkness  rendered  it  necessary  to  defer  the 
duty,  173  of  the  prize's  crew  were  still  in  her.  The  wind 
continued  to  rise,  and,  notwithstanding  every  cfibrt,  the 
ships  separated  in  the  darkness. 

The  situation  of  Mr.  Rodgers  was  now  exceedingly  cri- 
tical. The  vessel  was  still  covered  with  the  wreck,  while  the 
wounded,  and  even  the  dead  were  lying  scattered  about 
her  decks,  and  the  prisoners  early  discovered  a  disposition 
to  rise.  The  gratings  had  been  thrown  overboard  by  the 
people  of  the  Insurgente  after  she  struck,  and  no  handcuflfs 
could  be  found.  Fortunately,  Mr.  Rodgers  was  a  man  of 
great  personal  resolution,  and  of  herculean  strehgth,  while 
Mr.  Porter,  though  young  and  comparatively  slight,  was  as 
good  a  second,  in  such  trying  circumstances,  as  any  one 
could  desire.  As  soon  as  it  was*  ascertained  that  the  pri- 
soners could  not  bo  got  out  of  the  ship  that  night,  they  were 
all  sent  into  the  lower  hold,  the  fire-arms  were  secured, 
and  a  sentinel  was  placed  at  each  hatchway,  armed  to  the 
teeth,  with  positive  orders  to  shoot  every  man  who  should 
attempt  to  appear  on  deck,  without  permission.  In  this 
awkwafd  situation,  Mr.  Rodgers  and  his  party  continued 
three  .4ays,  unable  to  sleep,  compelled  to  manage  a  frigate, 
and  to  watch  their  prisoners,  with  the  utmost  vigilance,  as 
the  latter  were  constantly  on  the  look-out  for  an  opportu- 
nity to  re-take^e  ship.    At  the  end  of  that  time,  they  car- 


^' 


'■^■, 


*  Late  Com.  Rodgera. 


t  Com.  Porter. 


*: 


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s,il. 


VAVAL  HISTORY. 


301 


ried  the  Insurgente,  in  triumph,  into  St.  Kitts,  where  they 
found  that  the  Constellation  had  already  arrived. 

Mr.  Rodgers  and  Mr.  Cowper,  the  first  and  second  lieu- 
tenants of  the  Constellation,  were  soon  after  promoted  to  be 
captains,  great  irregularity  existing  in  the  service,  at  that 
day,  on  subjects  of  this  nature.  The  rank  of  master  com- 
mandant  had  been  established,  but  the  government  ap- 
peared to  think  that  it  was  still  organizing  a  marine,  and 
that  it  was  empowered  to  exercise  its  discretion,  in  trans- 
ferring officers  at  will,  from  one  grade  tu  another,  so  long 
as  no  one  was  reduced  from  a  former  station.  Capt.  Rod- 
gers was  appointed  to  the  Maryland  20,  and  Capt.  Cowper 
to  the  Baltimore  20. 

One  of  the  effects  of  the  victory  of  the  Constellation  was  to 
render  the  navy  still  more  popular,  and  the  most  respectable 
families  of  the  nation  discovered  greater  anxiety  than  ever  to 
get  their  sons  enrolled  on  its  lists.  The  new  ships  were  put 
into  the  water  as  fast  as  possible,  and,  as  soon  as  manned  and 
equipped,  il^ere  sent  on  the  different  cruising  grounds.  L'ln- 
surgente  was  taken  into  the  service  as  a  thirty-six,  the  confi- 
mand  of  her  was  given  to  Capt.  Murray,  late  of  the  Monte- 
zuma 20,  and  she  was  permitted  to  cruise  with  a  roving 
commission.'-       i^a'-   ••*•*• 

In  the  mean  time,  the  care  of  the  government  appeared 
to  extend  itself,  and  it  began  to  cast  its  eyes  beyond  the 
hazards  of  the  American  seas.  ^i^     ■  0'^'-.' 

;|wyV.t  the  close  of  the  year,  the  Congress  38,  Capt.  Sever, 
and  Essex  32,  Capt.  Preble,  sailed  with  orders  to  convoy 
vessels  as  far  as  Batavia.  The  former  of  these  vesfgls  met 
with  an  accident  to  which  all  new  ships  are  liable  on  quit- 
ting America  in  the  winter.  Her  rigging  having  been  set 
up  in  cold  weather,  it  became  slack  wheq^e  got  into  th« 
gulf  stream,  where  she  also  encountered  a  strong  southerly 
gale,  and  she  lost  not  only  all  her  masts,  but  her  bowsprit. 
The  main-mast  went  while  Mr.  Bosworth,  the  fourth  lieu- 
Vol.  I.— 26 


$1 
* 


* 


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# 


"i^tif* 


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^iii 


■«« 


k» 


. 


f 


803 


ITAVAL  HISTOlir. 


tenant,  was  aloft,  endeavouring  to  lower  the  main>top-mait, 
by  which  accident  that  officer  was  lost.  The  crew  of  the 
top  were  all  happily  saved.* 

The  Congress  returned  to  port,  for  repairs,  but  Capt. 
Preble  proceeded  on  his  cruise,  carrying  the  pennant,  for 
the  first  time,  in  a  regular  cruiser,  to  the  eastward  of  the 
Capo  of  Good  Hope. 

The  active  measures  resorted  to  by  the  American  go- 
vernment having  better  disposed  that  of  France  to  nego- 
tiate, and  pledges  having  been  given  that  new  ministers 
would  be  received  with  more  respect  than  had  been  showii 
to  the  last  sent,  who  had  met  with  insults  and  neglect, 
the  United  States  44,  Com.  Barry,  sailed  from  Newport, 
Rhode  Island,  on  the  3d  of  November,  having  on  board 
envoys  to  the  French  Directory.  Notwithstanding  these 
measures  to  obtain  peace.  Congress  proceeded  in  the  legis- 
lation necessary  to  establish  a  marine.  Many  of  the  laws 
for  the  government  of  the  navy  were  amended,  and  new 
regulations  were  introduced  as  substitutes  for  such  of  the 
old  ones  as  were  found  defective.  The  appropriation  for 
the  support  of  the  navy,  during  the  year  1800,  the  marine 
corps  included,  amounted  to  $2,482,953  90.       » ^  r^';    r*  •;  v 

The  new  year  consequently  opened  with  increased  efforts 
to  continue  the  singular  war  that  had  now  existed  eighteen 
months.  Many  acquisitions  were  made  to  the  navy,  and 
the  following  is  a  list  of  the  vessels  that  appear  to  have  been 

*  A  similar  accident  was  near  occurring  to  the  United  States  44,  in  her 
first  cruise,  under  Com.  Barry.  After  the  ship  got  into  the  g^lf  stream, 
the  rigfging  slackened,  when  she  was  scudding  ten  knots  in  a  gale,  and 
rolling  nearly  gunwale  to.  While  all  on  board  were  trembling  for  the 
masts,  Mr.  James  Barron,  the  third  lieutenant,  proposed  to  Com.  Barry  to 
set  up  the  rigging, confidently  declaring  his  ability  to  do  so.  This  bold 
oifer  was  accepted,  and  Mr.  Barron  got  purchases  on  every  other  shroud, 
and  by  swaying  together  at  the  call,  under  the  vigilant  superintendence  of 
the  officers,  this  delicate  undertaking  was  accomplished  with  success,  and 
the  ship's  masts  were  saved.  It  ought  to  be  remembered  that  few  of  the 
masts  in  this  war  were  made,  but  that  they  were  mostly  single  sticks. 


■m' 


f  ■'' 


ITAVAL  HISTORY. 


808 


■*^». 


employed  in  the  course  of  the  season,  principally  in  the  West 
Indies,  viz : 

United  States       44,  Portsmouth         ii, 

Conslitution  44,  Merrimack         24, 

President  44f  Delaware  20,      ',, 

Constellation        38,  Baltimore  20, 

Congress  38,       ,^.       Maryland  20,       ; 

Chesapeake  36,  ,  ,;         Patapsco  20, 

Philadelphia         36,  Herald  16, 

New- York  36,  Norfolk  16, 

•  ,-  Insurgedte  30,  Richmond  16, 

Essex  Wf  Pinckney  16, 

Gen.  Greene        28,  Warren  16, 

Adams  . jpi    t^  •      Eagle  .     14, 

John  Adams         28,  Pickering  14, 

Boston  26,  Augusta  14, 

Geo.  Washington  24,  Scmmel  14, 

Connecticut  24,     :    '      Enterprise  .         12, 

Ganges  24,     ,     ,     Experiment         12. 

Trumbull  24, 

By  this  time,  the  revenue  vessels,  with  the  exception  of 
one  or  two,  appear  to  have  been  retained  at  home,  and  in 
the  foregoing  list,  no  mention  is  made  of  galleys.  Laws 
had  been  previously  passed  for  the  construction  of  six 
seventy-fours,  and  contracts  were  already  made  for  the 
collection  of  the  necessary  materials. 

The  cruising  portion  of  the  vessels  were  distributed  in 
two  principal  squadrons,  the  one  on  the  St.  Domingo  sta- 
tion under  the  orders  of  Com.  Talbot,  whose  broad  pennant 
was  flying  in  the  Constitution  44,  and  the  other  on  the  Gua- 
daloupe  station,  under  the  orders,  first  of  Com.  Truxtun,  in 
the  Constellation  38,  and  next  under  the  orders  of  Com. 
Decatur,  in  the  Philadelphia  36.  The  force  of  the  former 
varied  from  seven  to  twelve  vessels,  while  the  latter,  in 
April,  consisted  of  thirteen  sail.         ,    , 


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304 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


Notwithstanding  this  exhibition  of  a  respectable  and  ac- 
tive force,  the  great  facilities  ofTcred  by  the  islands,  and  the 
strong  temptations  that  were  to  be  found  in  the  American 
West-India  trade,  then  one  of  the  most  considerable  of  the 
country,  induced  the  enemy  to  be  constantly  on  the  alert, 
and  the  sens  were  still  swarming  with  French  cruisers, 
principally  privateers.  Guadaloupe,  in  particular,  was  dis- 
tinguished for  the  number  of  captures  made  by  its  Vessels ; 
and  it  was  for  this  reason  that  we  now  find  the  heaviest 
American  squadron  cruising  in  that  vicinity. 

On  the  1st  of  February,  1800,  the  Constellation  38,  Com. 
Truxtun,  was  again  oflT  the  island  of  Guadaloupe,  alone, 
Basseterre  bearing  east  five  leagues,  when  a  sail  was  seen 
to  the  south-east,  steering  westward.  Com.  'tVuxtun  at  first 
supposed  the  ship  in  sight  to  be  a  large  English  merchant- 
man, from  Martinico,  of  which  he  had  some  knowledge, 
and,  unwilling  to  be  drawn  to  leeward  of  his  cruising 
ground,  he  hoisted  English  colours,  by  way  of  inducing  her 
to  run  down  and  speak  him.  This  invitation  being  disre- 
garded, sail  was  madt;  in  chase,  the  Constellation  gaining 
fast  on  the  stranger.  As  the  latter  drew  nearer,  the  ship 
to  windward  was  discovered  to  be  a  French  vessel  of  war; 
when  the  English  colours  were  hauled  down,  and  the  Con- 
stellation cleared  for  action.  The  chase  was  now  distinctly 
made  out  to  be  a  heavy  frigate  mounting  52  guns.  As 
her  metal  was  in  all  probability  equal  to  her  rate,  the  only 
circumstance  to  equalize  this  disparity  against  the  Constel- 
lation, was  the  fact  that  the  stranger  was  very  deep,  which 
was  accounted  for  by  a  practice  of  sending  valuable  articles 
to  France,  at  that  time,  in  the  ships  of  war,  as  the  safest 
means  of  transmission.  Com.  Truxtun  was  not  discou- 
raged by  his  discovery,  but  continued  to  carry  every  stitch 
of  canvass  that  would  draw.  Towards  noon,  however,  the 
wind  became  light,  and  the  enemy  had  the  advantage  in  sail- 
ing.   In  this  manner,  with  variable  breezes,  and  a  smooth 


•f'"' 


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NAVAL  HISTORY. 


305 


sea,  the  chase  continued  until  noon  on  the  2d,  when  the 
wind  freshened,  and  the  Constellation  again  drew  ahead. 
By  the  middle  of  the  afternoon,  the  wind  had  every  appear- 
ance of  standing,  and  the  chase  was  rising  fast.  It  was 
eight  in  the  evening,  nevertheless,  before  the  two  ships 
were  within  speaking  distance  of  each  other,  the  stranger 
having  come  up  to  the  wind  a  little,  and  the  Constellation 
doubling  on  her  weather  quarter.  Com.  Truxtun  was  about 
to  speak  the  enemy,  when  the  latter  opened  a  fire  from  his 
stern  and  quarter  guns.  In  a  few  moments  the  Constella- 
tion, having  drawn  still  more  on  the  weather  quarter  of  the 
chase,  poured  in  a  broadside,  and  the  action  began  in  ear- 
nest. It  was  a  little  past  eight  when  the  firing  commenced, 
and  it  was  maintained  with  vigour  until  near  one  in  the 
morning,  the  two  ships,  most  of  the  time,  running  free,  side 
by  side,  when  the  stranger  hauled  up,  and  drew  out  of  the 
combat.  Orders  were  given  on  board  the  Constellation  to 
brace  up  in  chase;  but,  at  this  moment,  a  report  was  brought 
to  Com.  Truxtun  that  the  main-mast  was  supported  almost 
solely  by  the  wood,  every  shroud  having  been  shot  away, 
and  many  of  them  cut  so  repeatedly  as  to  render  the  use 
of  stoppers  impossible.  At  that  time,  as  has  been  said  al- 
ready, masts  were  usually,  in  the  American  navy,  of  single 
sticks,  and  the  spars,  when  they  gave  way,  went  altogether. 
Aware  of  this  danger.  Com.  Truxtun  ordered  the  men  from 
the  guns,  to  secure  this  all-important  mast,  with  the  hope 
of  getting  alongside  of  his  enemy  again,  and,  judging  by 
the  feebleness  of  her  resistance  for  the  last  hour,  with  the 
certainty  of  taking  lier,  could  this  object  be  effected.  But 
no  exertions  could  obviate  the  calamity,  the  mast  coming 
by  the  board  within  a  few  minutes  after  the  enemy  had 
sheered  off.  All  the  topmen,  including  Mr.  Jarvis,  the 
niidsliipman  in  command  aloft,  went  over  the  side  with 
the  spars,  and,  that  gallant  young  officer,  who  had  refused 
to  abandon  his  post,  with  all  but  one  man,  was  lost. 

20* 


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KAVAL  HISTORY. 


The  Constellation  was  no  longer  in  a  situation  to  resume 
the  action,  and  her  enemy  was  in  a  far  worse  condition, 
with  the  exception  that  she  still  retained  spars  enough  to 
enable  her  to  escape.  Finding  it  impossible  to  reach  any 
friendly  port  to  windward,  as  soon  as  the  wreck  was  clear 
of  his  ship.  Com.  Truxtun  bore  up  for  Jamaica,  where  he 
arrived  in  safety. 

In  this  close  and  hard  fought  action,  the  Constellation  had 
14  men  killed  and  25  wounded,  11  of  the  latter  dying  of  their 
injuries.  Her  antagonist  afterwards  got  into  Cura^oa,  dis- 
masted, and  in  a  sinking  condition,  reporting  herself  to  have 
had  50  of  her  people  killed,  and  110  wounded,  in  an  engage- 
ment with  the  Constellation,  that  had  lasted  five  hours  within 
pistol-shot  This  statement  is  now  known  to  be  essentially 
true,  and  it  enables  us  to  form  a  comparative  estimate  of 
the  merits  of  the  action.  The  French  vessel  proved  to  be 
la  Vengeance,  Capt.  Pitot. 

The  armament  of  the  Constellation  had  been  changed 
since  her  action  with  the  Insurgente,  and  her  main-deck 
battery  now  consisted  of  28  eighteens,  and  she  had  10  twen- 
ty-four-pound carronades  on  her  quarter-deck,  which  were 
among  the  first,  if  not  the  very  first  guns  of  this  description 
ever  introduced  into  the  American  navy.  Her  crew  was 
composed  of  310  souls. 

It  is  said  that  the  force  of  la  Vengeance  has  been  ascer- 
tained to  have  been  28  eighteens,  16  twelves,  and  8  forly- 
two-pound  carronades.  Her  crew  has  been  variously  stated 
as  having  been  between  400  and  500  men.  The  metal  was 
all  according  to  the  French  mode  of  weighing,  which  adds 
one  pound  to  every  twelve.* 

•  Various  statements  have  been  given  of  the  construction  of  laVei^geance, 
as  well  as  of  her  armament.  The  papers  of  the  day  contain  an  account  of 
a  Mr.  James  Howe,  who  was  a  prisoner  on  board  her  during  the  action, 
and  who  is  said  to  have  brought  in  with  him  a  certificate  from  Capt.  Pitot, 
that  he  and  the  other  prisoners  on  board,  36  in  number,  refused  to  fight 


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NAVAL  BISTORT. 


307 


There  is  no  question  that  the  Constellation  engaged  a 
materially  superior  force,  or  any  doubt  that  she  would  have 
brought  la  Vengeance  into  port,  but  for  the  loss  of  the  mast. 
It  is  even  said,  that  la  Vengeance  did  strike  her  colours 
three  times,  during  the  action,  but  finding  that  the  Constel- 
lation continued  her  fire,  they  were  re-hoisted.  If  such  an 
event  occurred,  it  must  have  arisen  from  the  fact  that  it 
was  not  perceived  in  the  obscurity  of  the  night. 

Com.  Truxtun  gained  a  great  name  by  this  action,  and,  on 
his  return  to  America  for  repairs,  he  was  appointed  to  the 
President  44,  then  fitting  for  sea.  Congress  gave  him  a 
gold  medal  for  his  good  conduct,  and  the  gallantry  of  Mr. 
Jarvis  was  approved  in  a  solemn  resolution.  The  Constel- 
lation was  now  given  to  Capt.  Murray,  who  had  just  re- 
turned from  a  short  cruise  in  the  Insurgente,  and  that  officer 
went  in  her  to  the  West  Indies,  where  she  joined  the 
squadron  under  Com.  Talbot. 

against  their  country,  when  the  ships  engaged.  According  to  the  state- 
ment of  this  witness,  la  Vengeance  carried  on  her  g^n-deck  32  eighteens, 
2  of  w^hich  were  mounted  aft;  on  her  quarter-deck,  4  long  twelves  and  12 
thirty-six-pound  brass  carronades;  and  on  her  forecastle,  6  twelves;  making 
in  all  54,  and  a  broadside  of  26,  guns.  Her  crew  is  stated  at  400  men, 
including  a  good  many  passengers,  all  of  whom  were  mustered  at  quar- 
ters. La  Vengeance  was  described  by  Mr.  Howe  to  have  suffered  severely, 
having  received  186  round  shot  in  her  hull.  The  slaughter  on  board  yeas 
terrible.  ,  i        ^ 

This  account  has  much  about  it  that  is  probable.  The  presence  of  Mr. 
Howe  was  authenticated  by  the  certificate;  the  stern-guns  ag^ee  with 
Com.  Truxtun's  account  of  the  commencement  of  the  action;  and  the 
armament  is  very  much  what  would  have  been  used  by  a  heavy  French 
frigate  of  the  day,  on  board  of  which  carronades  had  been  introduced. 
A  report  that  she  was  a  ship  on  two  decks,  which  was  current  at  the 
time,  may  very  well  have  arisen  from  the  circumstance  of  her  carrying  so 
many  guns  on  her  quarter-deck  and  forecastle;  but  it  is  probable  that  Com. 
Truxtun  would  have  reported  her  as  a  two-decker,  had  such  been  the  fact. 
Tlie  number  of  the  crew  is  a  circumstance  in  which  a  passenger  might 
very  well  be  mistaken;  and  it  is  well  known  the  French  were  in  the  prac- 
tice of  over-manning,  rather  than  of  under-manning  tlieir  ships. 


■^'^Hft*"    ^■Mmuuui,Msm^..mf^m^^  ,—, 


'Try 


308 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


The  latter  officer  had  been  cruising  for  some  months  on  the 
St.  Domingo  station,  and  about  this  time  he  planned  an  ex- 
pedition that  was  quite  in  character  with  his  own  pdrsonal'/ 
enterprises  during  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 

It  was  ascertained  that  a  valuable  French  letter  of 
marque,  was  lying  in  Port  Platte,  a  small  harbour  on  the 
Spanish  side  of  the  Island  of  St.  Domingo,  and  as  she  was  a  '•""'' 
dangerous  ship  on  account  of  her  sailing.  Com.  Talbot  de- 
termined to  attempt  cutting  her  out.  This  vessel  had  been  the 
British  packet  the  Sandwich,  and  she  only  waited  to  com- 
plete a  cargo  of  coffee,  to  make  a  run  for  France.  The 
legality  of  the  enterprise  was  more  than  questionable,  but 
the  French  picaroons  received  so  much  favour  in  the 
Spanish  colonies,  that  the  American  officers  were  less  scru- 
pulous than  they  might  otherwise  have  been.  ,.   %  . 

As  soon  as  it  was  determined  to  make  the  effort,  Mr.  fftill, 
the  first  lieutenant  of  the  Constitution  went  in,  at  night,  in 
one  of  the  frigate's' cutters,  and  reconnoitered.  Com.  Talbot 
was  compelled  to  defer  the  expedition,  for  want  of  a  proper 
craft  to  avoid  suspicion,  when  fortunately  one  was  found  by 
accident.  An  American  sloop  called  the  Sally  had  been 
employed  on  the  coast  of  the  island,  under  circumstances 
that  rendered  her  liable  to  detention,  and  she  was  brought 
out  of  one  of  the  small  French  ports,  by  a  boat  of  the 
frigate.  This  sloop  had  recently  left  Port  Platte,  with  an 
intention  of  soon  returning  there,  and  she,  at  once,  afforded 
all  the  facilities  that  could  be  desired. 

Com.  Talbot,  accordingly,  threw  a  party  of  seamen  and 
marines  into  the  Sally,  and  giving  the  command  to  Mr,. 
Hull,  that  officer  was  directed  to  proceed  on  the  duly  without 
further  delay.  The  sloop  was  manned  at  sea,  to  escape  de- 
tection, and  she  sailed  at  an  hour  that  would  enable  her  to 
reach  Port  Platte,  about  noon  of  the  succeeding  day.  In  the 
course  of  the  night,  while  running  down  for  her  port,  under 
easy  sail,  a  shot  suddenly  flew  over  the  Sally,  and,  soon 


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* 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


309 


after,  an  English  frigate  ranged  up  along  side.  Mr.  Hull 
hove  to,  and  when  the  boarding  lieutenant  got  on  the  sloop's 
deck,  where  he  found  so  large  a  party  of  men,  and  offi- 
cers in  naval  uniforms,  he  was  both  startled  and  surprised. 
He  was  told  the  object  of  the  expedition,  however,  and  ex- 
pretHed  his  disappointment,  as  his  own  ship  was  only  waiting 
to  let  the  Sandwich  complete  her  cargo,  in  order  to  cut  her 
out  also !  '~ 

The  Sally's  movements  were  so  well  timed,  as  to  permit 
her  to  arrive  off  the  harbour's  mouth  at  the  proper  hour. 
The  Sandwich  was  lying  with  her  broadside  bearing  on  the 
approach,  and  there  was  a  battery  at  no  great  distance  to 
protect  her.  As  soon  as  near  enough  (o  be  seen,  Mr.  Hull 
sent  most  of  his  people  below,  and  getting  an  anchor  ready 
over  the  stern,  to  bring  the  sloop  up  with,  he  stood  directly 
for  the  enemy's  bows.  So  admirably  was  every  thing  ar- 
ranged, that  no  suspicion  was  excited,  the  Sally  ran  the 
Sandwich  aboard,  the  Constitution's  people  went  into  her, 
and  carried  her  without  the  loss  of  a  man.  At  the  same 
moment,  Capt.  Carmick  landed  with  the  marines,  entered 
the  battery,  and  spiked  the  guns. 

Notwithstanding  a  great  commotion  on  shore,  the  Amer- 
icans now  went  to  work  to  secure  their  prize.  The  Sand- 
wich was  stripped  to  a  girtline,  and  every  thing  was  below. 
Before  sunse^she  had  royal  yards  across,  her  guns  scaled, 
her  new  crew  quartered,  and  soon  after  she  weighed,  beat 
out  of  the  harbour,  and  joined  the  frigate. 

No  enterprise  of  the  sort  was  ever  executed  with  greater 
steadiness,  or  discipline.  Mr.  Hull  gained  great  credit  by  the 
neatness  with  which  he  fulfilled  his  orders,  and  it  was  not 
possible  for  an  officer  to  have  been  better  sustained;  the 
absence  of  loss,  in  all  cases  of  surprise,  in  which  the  assail- 
ed have  the  means  of  resistance,  being  one  of  the  strongest 
proofs  not  only  of  the  gallantry  and  spirit,  but  of  the  cool- 
ness of  the  assailants. 


f . 


'*(,_ 


*v 


310 


KAVAL  HISTORY. 


^  -Si-, 


In  the  end,  however,  this  capture,  which  was  clearly 
illegal,  cost  the  Constitution  dear.  Not  only  was  the  Sand- 
wich given  up,  but  all  the  prize  money  of  the  cruise  went  to 
pay  damages.  V -^'  \^ 

Early  in  May  the  Chesapeake  38,  went  to  sea,  under  the 
command  of  Capt  S.  Barron.  Her  first  duty  was  to  con- 
vey a  quantity  of  specie  from  Charleston  to  Philadelphia, 

j^'j^         after  which  she  proceeded  to  cruise  between  the  coast  and 

>^"  the  West.  India  islands. 

The  Insurgente  36,  had  been  given  to  Capt.  Fletcher, 
when  Capt.  Murray  was  transferred  to  the  Constellation, 
and  in  July  she  sailed  on  a  cruise,  with  instructions  to  keep 
between  longitudes  66°  and  68°,  and  to  run  as  far  south  as 
30°  N.  L.  After  this  ship  left  the  capes  of  Virginia,  no  au- 
thentic accounts,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  private  letters 
sent  in  by  vessels  spoken  at  sea,  were  ever  received  of 
her.  She  had  been  ordered  to  cruise  a  short  time  in  the 
latitude  and  longitude  mentioned,  after  which  her  comman- 
der was  left  at  liberty  to  pursue  his  own  discretion,  provided 
he  returned  to  Annapolis  within  eight  weeks.  Thirty-eight 
years  have  elapsed  and  no  further  tidings  of  any  belonging 
to  this  ill-fated  ship  have  ever  reached  their  friends. 

The  Pickering  14,  Capt.  Hillar,  also  sailed  in  August,  for 
the  Guadaloupe  station,  and  never  returned.  As  in  the  case 
of  the  Insurgente,  all  on  board  perished,  no  information  that 
could  be  relied  on  ever  having  been  obtained  of  the  man- 
ner in  which  these  vessels  were  lost.  Vague  rumours  were 
set  afloat  at  the  time,  and  it  was  even  affirmed  that  they  had 
run  foul  of  each  other  in  a  gale,  a  tale  that  was  substan- 
tiated by  no  testimony,  and  which  was  probably  untrue,  as 
the  Pickering  was  sent  to  a  station,  which  the  Insurgente, 
under  discretionary  orders,  would  be  little  apt  to  seek,  since 
it  was  known  to  be  already  filled  with  American  cruisers. 
These  two  ships  swelled  the  list  oi'  vessels  of  war  that  had 
been  lost  in  this  manner  to  three,  viz:  the  Saratoga  16,  the 


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NAVAL  HISTORY. 


811 


Insurgente  36,  and  the  Pickering  14;  to  which  may  be 
added  the  Reprisal  16,  though  the  cook  of  the  latter  sloop 
was  saved.  «     "        •«  '.  • 

The  nature  of  the  warfare,  which  was  now  confined 
principally  to  chases  and  conflicts  with  small  fast  sailing  pri- 
vateers, and  a  species  of  corsair  that  went  by  the  local  name 
of  picaroons,  or  with  barges  that  ventured  no  great  distance 
at  sea,  soon  satisfied  the  government  that,  to  carry  on  the 
service  to  advantage,  it  required  a  species  of  vessel  different 
from  the  heavy,  short,  sloop  of  twenty,  or  twenty-four  guns, 
of  which  so  many  were  used  in  the  beginning  of  the  con- 
test. Two  schooners  had  been  built  with  this  view,  and 
each  of  them  fully  proved  their  superiority  over  the  old 
clumsy  cruiser,  that  had  been  inherited,  as  it  might  be, 
from  the  Revolution.  One  of  these  vessels  was  called  the 
Experiment,  and  the  other  the  Enterprise,  and  they  were 
rated  at  twelve  guns.  The  modern  improvements,  how- 
ever, did  not  extend  to  the  armaments  of  even  these 
schooners,  the  old  fashioned  six  pounder  being  still  used, 
where  an  181b.  carronade  would  now  be  introduced.  The 
Enterprise,  Lieut.  Com.  Shaw,  was  very  active  this  year, 
capturing  la  Citoyenne,  privateer,  of  6  guns  and  47  men; 
la  Seine  6,  and  57  men;  I'Aigle  10,  and  78  men;  la  Pauline 
6,  and  40  men;  and  la  Guadaloup^enne  7,  and  45  men. 
Most  of  these  vessels  resisted,  though  neither  was  of  a  force 
to  aflford-  much  hope  of  success.  La  Citoyenne  had  4  killed 
and  11  wou  ded  before  she  struck;  la  Seine  made  an  ob- 
stinate resistance,  holding  out  until  she  had  24  of  her  crew 
killed  and  wounded,  which  was  near  half  her  complement; 
and  TAigle  lost  12  men,  among  whom  was  her  first  lieu- 
tenant, in  an  action  of  fifteen  minutes.  In  the  last  affair  the 
Enterprise  had  three  men  killed  and  wounded. 

Near  the  close  of  her  cruise,  the  Enterprise  made  a 
strange  sail  a  long  distance  to  windward,  late  in  the  day, 
and  hauled  up  for  her.  Night  coming  on,  the  chase  was  lost 


'i': 


f5» 


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h 


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I 


**- 


ITAVAL  HISTORY. 


sight  of  in  tho  darkness,  when  the  schooner  hove  to,  to 
keep  her  station.    When  the  day  dawned  the  stranger,  a 

t  brig,  was  seen  to  windward  as  before,  and  nearly  in  the 
position  in  which  she  had  last  been  observed.  Both  vessels 
now  discovered  a  disposition  to  close.  At  noon  the  Enter- 
prise made  the  American  i;ignal,  which  was  not  answered, 
the  brig  showing  English  colours.  The  signals  that  had 
been  established  between  the  English  and  American  com- 
mandeis  were  next  shown,  but  the  stranger  could  not  re- 
ply. Believing  the  brig  to  be  an  enemy  of  a  force  at  least 
equal  to  his  own,  Lieut.  Com.  Shaw,  now  set  his  ensign  as 
a  challenge  to  come  down,  but,  instead  of  complying,  the 
chase  immediately  hauled  his  wind.  The  Enterprise  im- 
mediately began  turning  to  windward  on  short  tacks,  and 

;  sailing  uncommonly  fast,  it  was  soon  apparent  that  the  ene- 

^  my  would  be  overhauled. 

As  soon  as  the  French  were  satisfied  that  escape  was  im- 
possible, they  cleared  for  action,  and,  waiting  until  the  En- 
terprise was  within  half  a  mile  to  leeward,  they  began  to 
fire.  Instead  of  returning  a  gun,  Lieut.  Com.  Shaw  kept 
the  schooner  under  all  her  canvass,  and,  about  half  an  hour 
after  the  brig  had  opened  on  him,  he  tacked  in  her  wake,  and 
ranged  up  handsomely  under  her  lee,  within  pistol  shot.  As 
her  guns  bore  the  Enterprise  now  poured  in  a  close  and 
destructive  fire,  which  lasted  for  a  little  more  than  an  1  .ur, 
when  the  brig's  fore-top-mast  being  shot  away,  and  the 
vessel  otherwise  seriously  injured,  she  struck. 

The  prize  was  the  Flambeau  privateer.  She  mounted  14 
guns,  and  had  more  than  100  men.  Her  loss  was  very  heavy, 
about  half  her  crew  having  been  killed  and  wounded.  The 
Enterprise  had  3  men  killed  and  7  wounded.  This  little  affair 
was  considered  one  of  the  warmest  combats  of  the  war,  and 
it  is  seldom  that  so  sharp  a  conflict  occurs  between  vessels 
of  so  small  a  force. 

Lieut.  Shaw  was  justly  applauded  for  his  activity  while  in 


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WAVAL  HISTORY. 


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..f. 


command  of  this  schooner,  recapt  'ig  eleven  American 
vessels,  besides  taking  those  just  mentioned,  in  a  cruise  of 
only  eight  months.  It  was  a  proof  of  the  greater  efficiency 
of  this  description  of  vessel  than  any  other,  in  a  warfare  of 
such  a  nature,  that  the  Enterprise,  a  schoonor  of  only  165 
tons,  carrying  an  armament  of  12  light  guns,  and  with  a 
crew  that  varied  from  60  to  75  men,  destroyed  more  of  the 
enemy's  privateers,  and  afforded  as  much  protection  to  the 
trade  of  the  country,  as  any  frigate  employed  in  the  war. 

In  March,  the  Boston  28,  Capt.  Little,  being  near  the 
Point  of  St.  Marks,  having  a  merchant  brig  in  tow,  on  her 
way  to  Port-au-Prince,  nine  barges  were  discovered  pulling 
towards  the  vessels,  coming  from  the  small  island  of  Go- 
naives,  with  every  appearance  of  hostile  intentions.  The 
barges  were  large,  as  usual,  pulled  20  oars,  and  contained 
from  30  to  40  men  each.  As  soon  as  their  characters  wore 
properly  made  out,  the  guns  of  the  Boston  were  housed,  and 
the  ship  was  otherwise  disguised.  This  stratagem  succeeded 
so  far  as  to  draw  the  barges  within  gunshot;  but  discover- 
ing their  mistake  before  they  got  as  near  as  could  have  been 
wished,  they  turned,  and  began  to  retreat.  The  Boston  now 
cast  off  her  tow,  made  sail  in  chase,  ran  out  her  guns,  and 
opened  her  fire.  For  two  hours,  she  was  enabled  to  keep 
some  of  the  barges  within  reach  of  her  shot,  and  three  of 
them,  with  all  their  crews,  were  sunk.  The  remainder  did 
not  escape  without  receiving  more  or  less  injury. 

After  this  punishment  of  the  picaroons,  who  were  often 
guilty  of  the  grossest  excesses,  the  Boston,  having  been 
home  to  refit,  was  directed  to  cruise  a  short  time,  previous- 
ly to  going  on  the  Guadaloupe  station  again,  between  the 
American  coast  and  the  West-India  islands.  While  in  the 
discharge  of  this  duty,  November,  1800,  in  lat.  22°  50'  N., 
and  long.  61"  W.,  she  made  a  French  cruiser,  which,  in- 
stead of  avoiding  her,  evidently  sought  an  encounter.   Both 

Vol.  I.— 27 


•Hi;. 


f 
I 

i 


«• 


-»*■ 


814 


WAVAL  HMTORT. 


parties  being  willing,  the  ships  were  soon  in  close  action, 
when,  after  a  plain,  hard-fought  combat  of  two  hours,  the 
enemy  struck.  The  prize  proved  to  be  the  French  corvette 
le  Berceau,  Capt.  Senes,  mounting  24  guns,  and  with  a 
crew  a  little  exceeding  200  men.  The  Berceau  was  much 
cut  up,  and  shortly  after  the  action,  her  fore  and  main  masti 
went.  Her  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  never  ascer- 
tained, but  from  the  number  of  the  latter  found  in  her,  it 
was  probably  between  30  and  40  men.  Among  the  former 
were  her  first  lieutenant,  master,  boatswain  and  gunner. 
The  Boston  mounted  eight  more  light  guns  than  the  Berceau, 
and  had  about  an  equal  number  of  men.  She  had  4  killed  and 
11  wounded.  Among  the  latter  was  her  purser,  Mr.  Young, 
who  died  of  his  injuries.  The  Bercoau  was  a  singularly 
fine  vessel  of  her  class,  and  had  the  reputation  of  being  one 
of  the  fastest  ships  in  the  French  marine.  Like  the  combat 
between  the  Constellation  and  Tlnsurgente,  the  superiority  of 
force  was  certainly  in  favour  of  the  American  ship,  on  this 
occasion,  but  the  execution  was  every  way  in  proportion  to 
the  difference. 

The  year  1800  was  acively  employed  on  both  sides  in 
the  West-Indies,  for  while  the  force  of  the  French  in  ves- 
sels of  war  seemed  to  decrease,  as  those  of  England  and 
America  increased,  the  privateers  still  abounded.  A  great 
many  American  merchantmen  were  captured,  and  the  re- 
captures also  amounted  to  a  number  that  it  is  now  difficult 
to  ascertain,  but  which  is  known  to  have  been  large.  Most 
of  the  privateers  were  small  schooners,  filled  with  men,  suf- 
ficient to  subdue  a  letter  of  marque  by  boarding ;  but,  as 
they  offered  no  resistance  to  any  of  the  cruisers  except  the 
smallest,  a  brief  catalogue  of  the  prizes  taken  by  the  differ- 
ent large  vessels,  will  at  once  give  an  idea  of  the  nature  of 
the  service  that  was  performed  by  the  West-India  squadrons 
during  this  year.  The  Baltimore  20,  Capt.  Cowper,  took 
la  Brilliante  Jeunesse  12,  with  a  crew  of  02  men,  and  « 


C 


f 


•*.. 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


m 


a  yosRel  whose  name  is  not  known;  the  Merrim;  84, 
Capt.  Brown,  the  Phenix  14,  with  128  men;  tho  (  I'x'c- 
ticut  24,  Capt.  Tryon,  le  Piige  2,  with  50  men,  rUnit^  I, 
with  fiO  men,  and  le  Chou  Chou ;  the  Boston  28,  Capt.  Lit- 
tle, la  Fortune,  I'Heureux,  and  an  open  boat ;  Pickering  14, 
Capt.  Hillar,  la  Voitigeuse  10,  with  6  men,  the  Fly,  and  I' Ac- 
tive  12,  with  60  men ;  Boston  32,  in  company  with  different 
vessels,  the  Flying  Fish,  la  Gourde,  le  Pelican,  and  TEspoir ; 
Herald  18  and  Augusta  14,  la  Mutine  6,  with  60  men ;  John 
Adams  28,  Capt.  Cross,  le  Jason,  with  50  men,  la  Decade; 
the  Trumbull  24,  Capt.  Jewett,  la  Peggie,  la  Vengeance  10, 
and  la  Tullie ;  Enterprise  12,  Lieut.  Com.  Sterrott,  TAmour 
de  la  Patrie  6,  with  72  men;  the  Patapsco  18,  Capt.  Ged- 
des,  la  Dorade  6,  with  40  men ;  the  Adams  28,  Capt.  Mor- 
ris, I'Heureuse  Rencontre  4,  with  50  men,  le  Gambeau,  4 
swivels  and  16  men,  la  Renomm^e,  the  Dove,  and  le  Mas- 
sena  6,  with  49  men.  Several  of  the  frigates  also  made 
prizes  of  diflferent  small  privateers,  barges  and  boats;  and 
many  vessels  were  chased  on  shore,  and  either  destroyed 
by  boats,  or  were  bilged  in  striking.  The  privateers  taken 
and  brought  into  port,  during  the  years  1798,  1799  and 
1800,  amounted  in  all  to,  rather  more  than  fifty  sail.  To 
these  must  be  added  sevcnl  letters  of  marque.  But  few 
merchant  ships  were  taken,  the  French  venturing  but  little 
on  the  ocean,  except  in  fast-sfliling  armed  vessels.  Still,  some 
valuable  prizes  of  this  nature  were  made,  and  several  ships 
of  the  class  were  driven  ashore  among  the  islands. 

The  constant  changes  that  occurred  among  the  com- 
manders of  the  different  vessels,  render  it  difficult  to  give 
clear  accounts  of  the  movements  of  both.  These  changes 
were  owing  to  the  rapidity  and  irregularities  of  the  promo- 
tions in  an  infant  service,  officers  who  went  out  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  season  lieutenants,  in  many  instances, 
returning  home  captains,  at  its  close.  In  short,  the  officers, 


*  •  1 


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i; 


(■ 
•■*©>• 


%. 


316 


WAVAL  HISTORY. 


like  the  crows,  were  constantly  passing  from  vessel  to  ves- 
sel, several  serving  in  two  or  three  ships  in  as  nnany  years. 

The  Experiment  12,  made  her  first  cruise  under  the  com- 
mand of  Lieut.  Com.  Maley,  and  was  much  employed  in 
convoying  through  the  narrow  passoges,  where  the  vessels 
were  exposed  to  attacks  from  large  barges  manned  from 
the  shores.  About  the  close  of  the  year  1709,  or  at  the 
commencement  of  1800,  this  schooner  was  becalmed  in  the 
Bight  of  Lcogane,  with  several  sail  of  American  merchant- 
men in  company  and  under  convoy.  While  the  little  fleet 
lay  in  this  helpless  condition,  a  good,  deal  scattered,  ten  of  the 
barges  mentioned,  filled  with  negroes  and  mulattoes,  came 
out  against  it.  The  barges  contained  from  30  to  50  men 
each,  who  were  armed  with  muskets,  cutlasses  and  pikes, 
and  in  some  of  the  boats  were  light  guns  and  swivels.  As 
the  Experiment  was  partially  disguised,  the  enemy  came 
within  reach  of  her  grape  before  the  assault  was  made, 
when  Lieut.  Com.  Malcy  ran  out  his  guns  and  opened  his 
Are.  This  was  the  commencement  of  a  long  conflict,  in 
which  the  barges  were  beaten  oK  It  was  not  in  the  power 
of  the  Experiment,  however,  to  prevent  the  enemy  from 
seizing  two  of  her  convoy,  which  had  drifted  to  such  a  dis- 
tance as  to  be  beyond  protection.  A  third  vessel  was  also 
boarded,  but  from  her  the  brigands  were  driven  by  grape, 
though  not  until  they  had  murdered  her  master  and  plun- 
dered the  cabin.  ;, , 

The  barges  went  twice  to  the  shore,  landed  their  killed 
and  vkrounded,  and  took  on  board  reinforcements  of  men. 
The  second  attack  they  made  was  directed  especially  at  the 
Experiment,  there  being  no  less  than  three  divisions  of  the 
enemy,  each  of  which  contained  three  heavy  barges.  But, 
after  a  protracted  engagement,  which,  with  the  intermis- 
sions, lasted  seven  hours,  the  enemy  abandoned  further  de- 
signs on  this  convoy,  and  retreated  in  disorder.  The  Ex- 
periment endeavoured  to  follow,  by  means  of  her  sweeps, 


ii 


P 


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ssasa 


■^ 


IfAYAI.  HlSTOlir. 


317 


but  finding  that  some  of  the  more  distant  of  the  barges 
threatened  two  of  her  convoy,  that  had  drifted  out  of  gun- 
shot, she  was  obliged  to  give  up  the  chase. 

In  ^his  arduous  and  protracted  engagement  the  Experi- 
ment was  fought  with  spirit,  and  handled  with  skill.  The 
total  absence  of  wind  gave  the  enemy  every  advantage; 
but,  notwithstanding  their  vast  superiority  in  numbers,  they 
did  not  dare  to  close.  Two  of  the  barges  were  sunk,  and 
their  loss  in  killed  and  wounded  was  known  to  have  been 
heavy,  while  the  Experiment  had  but  two  wounded,  one  of  • 
whom  was  Lieut.  David  Porter. 

Shortly  after  this  affair,  the  command  of  the  Experiment 
was  given  to  Lieut  Charles  Stewart,  late  of  the  United 
States  44.  Not  long  after  he  had  got  upon  his  station,  this 
officer  fell  in  with,  and  took,  after  a  slight  resistance,  the 
French  privateer  les  Deux  Amis,  of  6  guns,  and  between 
40  and  50  men.    The  Deux  Amis  was  sent  in.  r  •, 

About  a  month  after  this  occurrence,  while  cruising  on 
her  station,  the  Experiment  made  two  sail,  which  had  the 
appearance  of  enemy's  cruisers.  The  Frenchmen  were  a 
brig  of  18  guns,  and  a  three-masted  schooner  of  16,  and 
they  gave  chase  to  the  American.  Lieut.  Com.  Stewart, 
having  soon  satisfied  himself  of  the  superior  sailing  of  his 
own  vessel,  manoeuvred  in  a  way  to  separate  the  enemy, 
and  to  keep  them  at  a  distance  until  after  dark.  At  length, 
finding  that  the  Frenchmen  had  given  up  the  chase,  and 
that  the  brig  was  ahead  of  the  schooner  about  a  league,  he 
cleared  for  action,  closed  with  the  latter,  by  running  up  on 
her  weather  quarter,  and  gave  her  a  broadside.  The  at- 
tack was  so  vigorous  and  close,  that  the  enemy  struck  in  a 
few  minutes.  Throwing  his  first  lieutenant,  Mr.  David  Por- 
ter, into  the  prize,  Lieut.  Com.  Stewart  immediately  made 
sail  after  the  brig;  but  she  had  gained  so  much  ahead,  dur- 
ing the  time  lost  with  the  schooner,  that  she  was  soon  aban- 

27* 


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.,  i-i  iJIIijiLi  ^  _-_ 


i;A.v.^T,  «*;  t  i  ij 


S" 


,-t>. 


318 


irAVAL  HISTORY.    ^ 


doned,  and  the  Experiment  returned  to  her  prize,  which  she 
carried  into  St.  Kitts.  Mr.  Stewart  probably  owed  his  suc- 
cess to  the  boldness  of  his  manoeuvres,  as  the  brig  was  of  a 
force  sufficient  to  capture  him  in  a  few  minutes. 
^  The  vessel  taken  by  the  Experiment,  proved  to  be  the 
French  man-of-war  schooner  la  Diane,  Lieut.  Perradeau, 
of  14  guns,  and  about  60  men.  She  was  bound  to  France, 
with  General  Rigaud  on  board;  and  in  addition  to  her 
regular  crew,  30  invalid  soldiers  had  been  put  in  her,  having 
%  served  their  times  in  the  islands.  Her  commander  had  been 
the  first  lieutenant  of  Tlnsurgente,  and  the  prize-officer  of 
the  Retaliation. 

Returning  to  her  station,  the  Experiment  now  had  a  com- 
bat that  was  of  a  less  agreeable  nature.  A  suspicious  sail  had 
been  made  in  the  course  of  the  day,  and  chase  was  given 
until  dark.  Calculating  the  courses  and  distances,  Lieut 
Com.  Stewart  ordered  the  Experiment  to  be  kept  in  the 
required  direction  until  midnight,  when,  if  he  did  not  close 
with  the  stranger,  he  intended  to  give  up  the  chase.  At  that 
hour,  the  schooner  was  hauled  by  the  wind,  accordingly; 
but,  in  a  few  minutes,  a  sail  was  seen  quite  near,  and  to 
windward.  The  Experiment  went  to  quarters,  ran  :ip  under 
the  stranger's  lee,  and  hailed.  Finding  the  other  vessel  in- 
disposed to  give  an  answer,  Lieut.  Com.  Stewart  ordered  a 
gun  fired  into  him,  which  was  returned  by  a  broadside. 
A  sharp  action  now  commenced,  but,  it  blowing  heavily,  and 
the  schooner  lying  over,  it  was  found  impossible  to  depress 
the  guns  sufficiently  to  hull  the  enemy.  Planks  were  cut 
and  placed  beneath  the  trucks  of  the  gun-carriages,  when 
the  shot  of  the  Experiment  told  with  so  much  effect,  that  her 
antagonist  struck.  Mr.  Porter,  the  first  lieutenant  of  the 
Experiment,  was  now  directed  to  take  possession  of  the 
prize,  but,  on  getting  alongside,  he  was  refused  permission 
to  board.  As  soon  as  this  was  known  in  the  schooner,  the 
boat  was  directed  to  pull  out  of  the  line  of  fire,  with  a  view 


^ 


■^ 


•nairu'in" 


Mil 


1» 


# 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


310 


to  recommence  the  action,  when  the  stranger  hailed  to  say 
he  submitted.        •  •  .      .      .       •  ;  . 

This  vessel  proved  to  be  a  privateer  called  the  Louisa 
Bridger,  out  of  Bermuda,  with  an  armament  of  8  nine- 
pounders,  and  a  crew  of  between  40  and  50  men.  She  wait 
much  cut  up,  and  had  four  feet  water  in  her  hold  when  she 
surrendered.    Her  captain  was  among  the  wounded. 

As  soon  as  the  nature  of  this  unfortunate  mistake  was 
known,  every  aid  was  afforded  the  privateer,  the  Experi- 
ment lying  by  her  all  next  day,  to  assist  in  repairing  her 
damages.  The  Experiment  received  a  good  deal  of  in-tt 
jury  in  her  rigging,  and  had  one  man  killed,  and  a  boy 
wounded.  ;  H*«ii»  - 

Active  negotiations  had  commenced,  and  in  the  autumn 
of  1800  the  hopes  of  peace  became  so  strong,  that  the 
efforts  to  increase  the  navy  were  sensibly  relaxed,  and  the 
sailing  of  many  ships,  that  had  been  intended  for  distant 
stations,  was  suspended.  In  May  of  this  year,  however, 
the  George  Washington  24,f  Capt.  Bainbridge,  was  ordered 
to  sail  with  tribute  to  the  Dey  of  Algiers.  We  now  look 
back  with  wonder  at  the  fact,  that  a  maritime  people,  like 
those  of  the  United  States,  should  consent  to  meet  the  unjust 
demands  of  a  power  as  insignificant  as  that  of  Algiers,  with 
any  other  answer  than  a  close  blockade,  and  a  vigorous 

f  In  giving'  the  rates  of  vessels,  except  in  flagrant  instances,  such  as 
those  in  which  the  Chesapeake  and  Philadelphia  are  called  forty-fours, 
and  the  Adams,  John  Adams,  and  Boston,  thirty-twos,  we  follow  the  irre- 
gular rule  which  appears  to  have  been  laid  down  in  the  service  at  the 
time.  The  George  Washington  was  much  nearer  a  thirty-two  in  size, 
than  most  of  the  twenty-eights  of  xhe  navy,  though  in  the  oificial  reports 
she  is  called  a  twenty-four.  The  tonnage  of  tliis  ship  was  624  tons,  while 
that  of  the  Boston  was  only  ^30.  She  had  been  an  Indiaman,  and  when 
sold  out  of  service,  in  1803,  returned  to  her  old  employment.  The  pro- 
per rate  of  this  ship  would  have  made  her  nearer  a  twenty-eight,  than  any 
thing  else.  Her  last  service  was  to  carry  tribute  to  the  Mediterranean, 
under  Lieut.  Com.  Shaw. 


■ft-, 


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.rAjtii;*  :'# 


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tH 


320 


HAVAL  HISTORT. 


war.  No  better  school  for  the  education  of  an  efficient 
corps  of  officers  could  have  been  desired,  than  a  contest 
with  all  Barbary,  should  the  latter  invite  it,  nor  would  the 
expense  have  greatly  exceeded  that  connected  with  the 
support  of  the  small  naval  force,  that  nearly  all  parties 
now  appeared  to  admit  was  indispensable  to  tiie  country. 
Opinion  had  probably  as  much  connexion  with  this  want  of 
spirit,  as  expediency  or  policy,  for  it  would  be  easy  to  show, 
not  only  in  this  but  in  all  other  cases,  that  there  is  no  more 
certain  means  for  a  nation  to  invite  aggressions,  than  by 
making  undue  concessions,  or  no  surer  method  of  obtaining 
justice  than  by  insisting  on  its  rights.  The  great  maritime 
nations  of  Europe,  with  England  at  their  head,  influenced 
by  motives  peculiarly  their  own,  had  long  been  in  (he 
practice  of  bribing  the  Barbary  States  to  respect  the  laws 
of  nations,  and  it  was  perhaps  too  soon  to  expect  that 
America,  a  country  that  had  so  recently  been  a  colony, 
should  step  boldly  out  of  the  circle  of  its  habits,  and  set  the 
first  example  of  self-respect  and  wisdom.  It  was  reserved 
for  that  little  marine,  which  was  just  struggling  into  exist- 
ence, under  all  the  unfavourable  circumstances  of  a  hurried 
organization,  defective  vessels,  a  want  of  arsenals,  docks, 
and  system,  to  bring  the  nation  up  to  the  level  of  its  own 
manliness  and  independence,  at  a  later  day,  and  to  teach 
the  true  policy  of  the  country  to  those  whose  duty  it  was  to 
direct  it. 

The  George  Washington  arrived  in  the  port  of  Algiers 
in  September,  and  feeling  that  he  had  come  on  a  duty  that, 
at  least,  entitled  him  to  the  hospitalities  of  the  Dey,  Capt. 
Bainbridge  ran  in  and  anchored  under  the  mole.  As  soon 
as  the  tribute,  or  presents,  whichever  it  may  suit  the  tone  of 
diplomacy  to  term  them,  were  put  into  the  hands  of  the  consul, 
a  request  was  made  to  Capt.  Bainbridge  to  place  his  ship 
at  the  disposal  of  the  Dey,  with  a  sole  view  to  the  conve- 
nience and  policy  of  that  prince.  It  appears  that  the  Sultan 


* 


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^^ 


4 


££ 


ns/r>- 


-A*^ 


% 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


321 


had  taken  offence  with  the  regency  of  Algiers,  on  account 
of  a  treaty  it  had  lately  concluded  with  France,  a  power 
with  which  the  Ottoman  Porte  was  then  at  war,  and  his 
anger  was  to  be  deprecated  by  a  timely  application  of 
presents.  The  good  offices  of  Capt.  Bainbridge  were  now 
solicited  in  conveying  these  offerings,  with  a  suitable  agent, 
to  Constantinople.  As  soon  as  apprised  of  his  wish,  Capt. 
Bainbridge  sought  an  audience  with  the  Dey,  and  having  ob- 
tained one,  he  expressed  his  regret  at  not  being  able  to  com- 
ply with  his  request,  as  it  would  be  disregarding  the  orders 
of  his  superiors  at  home.  The  Dey  now  gave  his  guest  to  un- 
derstand that  both  he  and  his  ship  were  in  his  power,  and 
his  request  was  put  more  in  the  shape  of  a  demand.  A 
long  and  spirited  altercation  ensued,  until  influenced  by  the 
representations  of  the  consul,  Mr.  O'Brien,  the  certainty  that 
his  ship  would  be  otherwise  seized  and  sent  by  force,  the 
apprehension  of  a  war,  and  the  knowledge  that  near  two 
hundred  sail  of  merchantmen  were  exposed  in  those  seas, 
Capt.  Bainbridge  entered  into  stipulations  on  the  subject. 
He  consented  to  carry  the  agent  and  presents  of  Algiers, 
on  condition  that  peace  should  be  maintained,  that  the  Dey 
should  deem  the  act  one  of  friendly  concession  on  the  part 
of  the  United  States,  and  not  one  of  right,  and  that,  on  his 
return  from  Constantinople,  no  further  demands  should  be 
preferred. 

When  the  ship  was  about  to  sail  from  Algiers  a  new 
difficulty  arose  on  the  subject  of  the  flag;  the  Dey  in- 
sisting that  his  own  should  be  hoisted  at  the  main,  while 
that  of  the  United  States  should  be  shown  forward.  In 
maintaining  this  claim,  he  affirmed  that  it  was  a  compli- 
ment always  paid  him  by  the  English,  French  and  Spanish 
captains,  who  had  been  employed  on  similar  service  in  his 
behalf.  After  a  strong  remonstrance,  Capt.  Bainbridge 
yielded  in  appearance,  but  as  he  refused  to  make  any 
pledges  on  the  subject,  as  soon  as  he  was  beyond  the  reach 


Mt.,. 


II         I   itii  1  I  W^ 


322 


NAVAL  HMTORT. 


\i 


I      -- 


I  i'- 


f 


of  the  guns  of  the  works,  he  set  his  own  ensign  as  usual. 
Under  these  circumstances,  the  George  Washington  sailed. 
At  this  distance  of  time  from  the  event,  a  dispassionate 
opinion  may  perhaps  be  formed  concerning  the  propriety  of 
the  course  pursued  by  the  officer  in  command  of  the  George 
Washington.  On  the  one  hand  was  the  war  with  France, 
which  might  have  rendered  the  management  of  a  war  with 
Algiers  more  difficult  than  common,  and  the  probability  that 
the  latter  would  ensue  in  the  event  of  a  refusal.  But,  if 
France  was  at  war  with  America,  she  was  also  at  war  with 
England,  and  the  appearance  of  the  George  Washington  in 
the  Mediterranean  was  a  proof  that  cruisers  might  be  em- 
ployed in  that  sea,  although  the  nation  was  without  ports, 
or  arsenals.  As  opposed  to  the  general  hazards  of  war, 
and  the  particular  risks  incurred  by  the  crew  of  the  George 
Washington,  were  those  common  and  enduring  principles 
of  honour  and  right,  by  maintaining  which  nations,  in  the 
end,  assert  their  claims  in  the  promptest,  cheapest,  and 
most  efficient  manner.  It  is  the  peculiar  province  of  the 
officers  and  men  of  a  vessel  of  war  to  incur  risks  equally  of 
life  and  liberty,  and  as  no  man  manifested  more  of  the  true 
spirit,  in  this  respect,  than  Capt.  Bainbridge,  on  all  other 
occasions,  the  consideration  of  his  own  peculiar  danger,  or 
that  of  his  crew,  probably  had  no  influence  on  his  decision. 
The  question  then  is,  whether  an  officer  in  his  situation 
ought  to  have  taken  the  responsibility  of  producing  a  war 
by  a  refusal  to  comply  with  the  demand  of  the  Dey,  or 
whether  his  duty  pointed  out  the  course  pursued  by  Capt. 
Bainbridge.  No  one  can  hesitate  about  saying  that  the  first 
should  be  the  decision  of  a  commander  of  a  vessel  of  war, 
in  our  own  time.  But  Capt.  Bainbridge  was  not  before 
Algiers  in  an  age  when  America  was  as  ready  as  she  is  to- 
pay  to  assert  all  those  great  principles  of  right  which  na- 
tions must  maintain  with  their  blood  and  treasure,  if  they 
are  to  be  maintained  at  all.    He  had  himself  just  been  em- 


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K AVAL  HISTORY. 

ployed  in  transporting  tribute  to  Algiers,  under  a  solemn 
law  of  his  country,  and  it  would  have  been  a  violent  pre- 
sumption indeed,  to  suppose  that  a  government,  which  had 
so  far  neglected  the  just  feelings  of  national  pride,  and  the 
first  and  simplest  principles  of  policy,  as  to  expend  in  tribute 
the  money  that  would  nearly,  if  not  quite,  extort  justice  by 
force,  would  look  with  favour  on  an  act  that  should  produce 
a  war,  on  a  naked  point  of  honour.  We  dislike  the  decision 
of  Capt.  Bainbridge,  while  we  distinctly  see,  that  in  requiring 
him  to  have  acted  otherwise,  we  require  him  to  have  been 
in  advance  of  the  opinion  of  his  day,  and  of  the  policy  of  his 
government.*  >  v 

It  is  understood  that  Capt.  Bainbridge  was  much  influ- 
enced by  the  advice  and  opinions  of  Mr.  O'Brien,  the  con- 
sul. This  gentleman  had  been  one  of  the  first  prisoners 
taken  by  Algiers  in  1785,  and  he  had  passed  many  weary 
years  in  captivity,  almost  abandoned  by  hope,  and  appar- 
ently, though  riot  really,  forgotten  by  his  country.  He  had 
probably  little  faith  in  the  existence  of  that  patriotism  which 
is  ready  to  sacrifice  immediate  interest  to  future  good,  and 
saw  in  perspective  a  piratical  warfare,  and  captivities  like 
his  own,  which,  unrelieved  by  any  feelings  of  humanity, 
would  be  nearly  allied  to  despair.  This  gentleman  is  not 
to  be  censured;  for  bitter  experience  had  taught  him  how 
little  is  the  care  taken  of  individual  rights,  by  popular 
governments,  when  the  evil  does  not  present  itself  to  the 
senses  of  bodies  of  men,  and  how  strong  is  the  desire  to 
shrink  from  responsibility  in  those  who  are  subject  to  th'-  - 
judgment  and  clamour.     This  is  the  weak  side  of  liit 

*  It  has  been  conjectured  that  Capt.  Bainbridge  consented  to  go  to 
Constantinople,  with  the  view  to  show  the  American  flag  to  the  Ottoman 
Porte,  and  to  open  the  way  for  a  treaty,  and  a  trade  in  the  Black  Sea;  but 
we  know  of  no  evidence  of  the  truth  of  this  supposition.  It  ought  to  be 
added,  moreover,  that  the  ships  of  the  greatest  powers  of  Europe,  often 
performed  offices  like  that  required  of  Capt.  Bainbridge,  for  the  Dey, 
and  that  he  was  perfectly  aware  of  the  fact. 


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IlilHMiiiiii 


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324 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


polity,  and  were  it  not  redeemed  by  so  much  that  is  supe- 
rior to  the  effects  of  all  other  systems,  it  is  one  that  would 
totally  unfit  a  nation  to  maintain  the  respect  of  mankind. 
Mr.  O'Brien,  too,  had  been  educated  as  a  ship-master,  and 
probably  reasoned  more  like  the  agent  of  a  commercial 
house,  than  the  agent  of  a  government  that  wanted  none  of 
the  elements  of  greatness  but  the  will.  That  neither  he  nor 
Capt.  Bainbridgc,  frank  seamen,  discovered  much  of  the 
finesse  of  diplomacy,  is  evident ;  for  a  practised  negotiator, 
detecting  the  necessity  of  submission,  would  have  antici- 
pated the  final  demand,  and  averted  the  more  disagreeable 
features  of  compulsion,  by  apparently  conceding  that  to  soli- 
citation, which  was  finally  yielded  to  menace. 

When  the  Americans,  feeble,  scattered  colonists,  without 
military  stores,  posts,  fortified  towns  or  navy,  determined 
to  resist  the  usurpations  of  the  British  Parliament,  they  were 
influenced  by  those  lofty  principles  of  right,  which  are  cer- 
tain to  lead  to  greatness.  It  i&  not  pretended  that  the  taxa- 
tion of  England  bore  heavily  on  America  in  practice,  but 
the  resistance  grew  out  of  the  maintenance  of  a  principle; 
and  the  result  of  sacrificing  immediate  interests  to  the  true 
and  elevating  policy  of  the  right,  is  before  the  world.  Even 
many  of  the  well-disposed,  who  belonged  to  the  school  of 
those  who  are  for  consulting  temporary  good,  and  whose  po- 
litical wisdom  too  often  savours  of  the  expedient,  thought  the 
contest  premature;  but,  happily,  a  better  temper  prevailed  in 
the  country,  and  the  nation  escaped  the  risks  of  losing  its 
spirit  under  the  gradual  operation  of  usage,  as  might  have 
attended  delay.  Immediate  good  was  sacrificed  to  the  great 
objects  of  a  more  liberal  policy,  and  we  now  find  that  Eng- 
land, so  far  from  persevering  in  a  wish  to  tax  colonies  over 
which  she  does  not  possess  the  right,  even  hesitates  about 
taxing  those  which,  in  the  way  of  principle,  lie  at  her  mercy 
by  conquest. 

It  was  the  19th  of  October,  1800,  when  the  Geo.  Wash- 


..  fif 


#•■ 


I     »■; 


.^ 


> 


■  *'-;■ 


ITAVAL  HISTORT. 


325 


■1^ 


■«i'5t 


ington  left  Algiers.  She  entered  the  Bosphorus  with  a  fresh 
breeze  at  the  southward,  and  on  approaching  the  Darda- 
nelles, where  are  two  castles  that  command  the  passage, 
and  where  ships  are  obliged  to  exhibit  passports  in  order  to 
proceed,  Capt.  Bainbridge  felt  some  embarrassment  as  to 
the  course  he  ought  to  take.  He  had  no  firman,  his  coun- 
try was  scarcely  known  at  the  Ottoman  Porte,  and  he 
might  be  delayed  weeks,  negotiating  for  permission  to  go 
up  to  the  town.  From  this  dilemna  he  relieved  himself  by 
the  happy  and  prompt  expedient  of  a  seaman.  The  castles 
stand  nearly  opposite  each  other,  on  the  European  and 
Asiatic  shores,  and  guns  carrying  stone  balls,  that  weigh, 
in  some  instances,  eight  hundred  pounds,  are  pointed  in  a 
manner  to  command  the  channel.  These  guns,  however, 
are  stationary  like  mortars,  and  become  nearly  useless  the 
moment  a  ship  is  out  of  their  regulated  range.  The  rest  of 
the  defences,  at  that  time,  were  very  immaterial.  The 
width  of  the  Bosphorus,  here,  a  little  exceeds  three  thou- 
sand feet.  As  his  ship  approached  the  castle,  Capt.  Bain- 
bridge hauled  up  his  courses,  clewed  up  his  top-gallant- 
sails,  and  made  the  usual  preparations  for  anchoring.  When 
nearly  up  with  them,  she  commenced  firing  a  salute,  which 
was  instantly  returned  from  the  shore,  and,  at  this  moment, 
when  the  vessel  was  partly  concealed  in  smoke,  sail  was 
made,  and  before  the  Turks  recovered  from  their  surprise, 
being  totally  unprepared  for  a  thing  so  unusual,  sht.  was 
beyond  their  reach. 

Capt.  Bainbridge  now  pursued  his  way  to  Constantinople, 
where  he  arrived  as  much  unexpected  as  he  was  unan- 
nounced and  unknown.  The  George  Washington  anchored 
the  9th  of  November,  in  the  outer  harbour,  where  she  was 
soon  visited  by  an  officer,  to  demand  under  what  flag  she 
sailed.  The  usual  reply  was  given,  and  the  officer  took 
his  leave.  An  hour  or  two  afterwards  he  returned,  to  say 
that  his  government  had  never  heard  of  such  a  nation  as 

Vol.  I.— 28 


;.,A'ta't. 


4  '>^ 


^ 


.0- 


326 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


,.-..,. 


'      / 


# 


■#*"   •■ 


the  United  States  of  Americu,  and  to  request  some  more 
explicit  answer.  The  officer  was  now  sent  back  with  the 
Information  that  the  George  Washington  belonged  to  the 
"New  World,"  which  was  received  as  satisfactory,  the 
Turkish  government  extending  to  strangers  much  of  that 
polished  hospitality  for  which  it  is  justly  esteemed. 

The  George  Washington  remained  at  Constantinople  until 
the  30th  of  December,  when  she  again  sailed  for  Algiers, 
which  port  she  reached  on  the  21st  of  January,  1801. 
Though  much  solicited  to  do  so,  Capt.  Bainbridge  now 
refused  to  carry  his  ship  within  the  mole,  but  kept  her  out 
of  the  reach  of  the  batteries.  The  Dey  made  a  new 
request  that  he  would  return  to  Constantinople  with  his 
agent,  and,  though  the  old  threats  were  not  exactly  resorted 
to,  the  ship  being  beyond  his  reach,  war  was  still  held  in 
perspective  as  the  alternative.  Capt.  Bainbridge,  however, 
peremptorily  refused  to  put  himself  and  ship  again  at  the 
orders  of  the  Dey. 

Having  borrowed  some  ballast,  Capt.  Bainbridge  was 
about  to  have  it  landed  in  lighters,  when  the  Dey,  affecting 
to  be  indignant  at  his  want  of  confidence,  forbade  the  light- 
ermen to  undertake  the  job,  announcing  at  the  same  time, 
unless  the  ballast  was  returned,  that  he  would  declare  war. 
The  consul  again  so  earnestly  entreated  Capt.  Bainbridge 
to  comply,  that  the  latter,  on  receiving  a  solemn  stipulation 
that  no  more  should  be  said  on  the  subject  of  a  new  voyage 
to  Constantinople,  took  the  George  Washington  into  the 
mole,  and  landed  the  ballast,  which  consisted  of  a  number 
of  old  guns. 

Capt.  Bainbridge  soon  after  had  an  audience  with  the 
Dey,  when  the  latter  got  into  such  a  rage  as  to  threaten 
personal  violence.  Fortunately,  the  Capudan  t^acha  had 
become  pleased  with  the  manly  conduct  and  fine  personal 
appearance  of  the  American  officer,  while  the  latter  was  at 
Constantinople,  and,  at  parting,  be  had  given  him  a  firman 


T 


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^^:^ 


\ 


^.Bikv 


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4- 


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♦.  ^. 


■f^v, 


4 


ITAVAL  HISTORY. 


327 


i:i  . 


'  * 


of  protection.  This  paper  was  now  presented,  and  it  im- 
msdiately  changed  the  savage  ferocity  of  n  barbarian  into 
expre!'^"  js  of  friendship  and  offers  of  service.  From  that 
moment  the  tone  of  the  Dey  was  altered ;  and  the  man, 
whom  a  minute  before  he  had  threatened  with  irons,  was 
converted  into  a  person  of  influence  and  authority.  Such 
was  the  effect  of  Asiatic  despotism  and  a  ruthless  discipline. 

A  good  opportunity  now  offered  to  relieve  some  of  the 
mortification  which  Capt.  Bainbridge  had  experienced,  by 
affording  him  an  occasion  to  be  the  instrument  of  rescuing 
many  christians  from  slavery.  One  of  the  causes  of  quar- 
rel between  the  Regency  and  the  Porte,  as  has  been  stated, 
was  the  separate  peace  made  by  the  latter  with  France. 
To  expiate  for  that  crime,  the  Dey  had  been  compelled  to 
cut  down  the  flag-staff  of  the  French  consul,  to  declare  war 
against  his  country,  and  to  condemn  him  and  flfty  or  sixty 
of  his  countrymen  to  slavery.  Notwithstanding  the  war 
which  still  existed  between  America  and  France,  Capt. 
Bainbridge  interfered  in  behalf  of  these  unfortunate  people, 
and,  profiting  by  the  unexpected  influence  of  his  firman,  he 
obtained  a  stipulation  from  the  Dey,  that  all  who  could  get 
out  of  his  dominions  within  eight-and-forty  hours,  might  go 
away,  while  those  who  could  not,  should  be  slaves.  No  other 
vessel  offering,  the  George  Washington  was  employed  in 
this  grateful  oflice,  and  by  great  exertions  she  went  to  sea 
within  the  stipulated  time,  carrying  with  her  all  the  French 
in  Algiers.  The  passengers  were  landed  at  Alicant,  and 
the  ship  returned  home,  where  the  conduct  of  her  comman- 
der, throughout  these  novel  and  trying  circumstances,  met 
with  the  fullest  approbation  of  the  government,  and  he  was 
immediately  transferred  to  a  much  finer  ship,  the  Essex  32. 

While  these  events  were  taking  place  in  the  Mediterra- 
nean, the  negotiations  for  peace  with  France  had  been  go- 
ing on  at  Paris,  and  a  treaty  to  that  effect  was  ratified  by 
the  Senate  on  the  3d  of  February,  1801.   All  the  necessary 


»■ 


4 


'W- 


■:Ami^-, 


■lat: 


828 


ITAVAL  HISTORY. 


»,' : 


,>fK-* 


forms  having  been  complied  with  on  both  sides,  the  Herald 
18,  Capt.  Russel,  was  sent  to  the  West  Indies,  with  orders 
of  recall  fur  the  whole  force.  '  ''     v 

Thus  ended  the  short  and  irregular  struggle  with  France, 
in  which  the  present  marine  of  the  United  States  was 
founded,  most  of  the  senior  officers  now  in  service  having 
commenced  their  careers  as  midshipmen  during  its  eX' 
istence. 


•■./, 


w 


^> 


)rald 
ders 


If  AVAL  HISTORY. 


330 


v;y/ 


nee, 

was 

nng 

ex- 


m 


CHAPTER  XVII. 


'mi 


^^ 


(%>!, 


Evert  form  of  government  has  evils  peculiar  to  itself. 
In  a  democracy  there  exists  a  standing  necessity  for  re* 
ducing  every  thing  to  the  average  comprehension,  the  high 
intelligence  of  a  nation  usually  conceding  as  much  to  its 
ignorance,  as  it  imparts.  One  of  the  worst  consequences 
of  this  compromise  of  knowledge,  in  a  practical  sense,  is  to 
be  found  in  the  want  of  establishments  that  require  foresight 
and  liberality  to  be  well  managed,  for  the  history  of  every 
democracy  has  shown  that  it  has  been  deficient  in  the 
wisdom  which  is  dependent  on  those  expenditures  which 
foster  true  economy,  by  anticipating  evils  and  avoiding  the 
waste  of  precipitation,  want  of  system,  and  a  want  of  know- 
ledge. The  new  government  of  the  Union  was  now  to  ex- 
perience evils  of  this  nature,  that  are  perhaps  inseparable 
from  popular  power,  and  to  contend  with  the  cry  of  ex- 
travagance, as  extravagance  is  usually  viewed  by  those  who 
have  not  sufficient  information  to  understand  that,  as  in 
ordinary  transactions,  the  highest  pay  commands  the  best 
services,  so  in  public  things,  the  expenditures  made  in  a 
time  of  peace  are  the  surest  means  of  obtaining  economy 
in  a  ti-Tne  of  war. 

The  commencement  of  the  year  1801,  was  distinguished 
by  a  change  of  administration,  for  the  first  time  since  the 
adoption  of  the  constitution;  Mr.  Jefferson  and  his  political 
friends,  who  were  usually  known  by  the  name  of  the  repub- 

28* 


.t- 


'u 


/ 


380 


ITAVAL  HISTORY. 


^^.' 
.'."> 


lican  party,  expelling  the  federalists  from  power,  with  Mr. 
Adams  at  their  head,  by  a  large  majority  of  the  electoral 
votes.  One  of  the  charges  brought  against  the  federalists 
was  an  undue  love  for  unnecessarily  largo  and  expensive 
establishments,  in  imitation  of  the  English  school  of  politi- 
cians, while  the  republicans  were  accused  of  a  wish  to  de- 
ceive the  ignorant,  by  pretending  to  a  nakedness  of  legisla- 
tion and  an  absence  of  precautionary  measures,  which,  while 
they  would  save  money  at  the  moment,  might  involve  the 
country  in  eventual  ruin,  and  which  would  unfit  the  people 
for  the  great  exertions  certain  to  be  required  in  the  hour  of 
danger. 

In  this  controversy,  as  is  commonly  the  case,  both  par- 
ties maintained  principles  that  were  false,  and  insisted  on 
measures,  which,  if  not  utterly  impracticable,  were  at  least 
impolitic.  The  federalists  held  the  doctrine  that  the  people 
ought  to  be  taxed,  if  it  were  merely  to  accustom  them  to 
pay  for  the  support  of  government ;  and  the  democrats,  or 
republicans,  applied  to  the  management  of  political  interests 
the  notion  that  all  that  was  necessary  was  to  provide  for 
the  demands  of  the  day,  virtually  leaving  the  future  to 
attend  to  its  own  wants.  The  first  theory  was  like  that 
which  would  prescribe  periodical  depletion  to  the  young 
soldier,  in  order  that  he  might  be  ready  to  shed  hi^  blood 
in  the  hour  of  trial;  while  the  other  may  be  likened  to  the 
folly  of  the  agriculturist  who  should  expect  a  crop,  without 
taking  the  precaution  to  sow  the  seed. 

In  addition  to  the  extremes  into  which  political  struggles 
are  apt  to  push  political  controversialists,  Mr.  Jefferson  is 
known  to  have  been  averse  to  most  of  the  measures  taken 
by  his  predecessor  against  France,  and  he  probably  entered 
into  the  exercise  of  his  duties,  with  a  strong  disposition  to 
erase  as  many  of  the  evidences  of  their  existence  as  possi- 
ble, frotn  the  statutes  of  the  nation.  A  president  of  the 
United  States,  however,  is  little  more  than  an  executive 


f!<fe.' 


,^«. 


-iJi--.:-  JiSfeidi 


)^ 


NAVAL  HISTORr. 


aai 


officer,  while  confined  to  the  circle  of  his  constitutional 
powers,  and  the  Congress  that  terminated  on  the  4th  of 
March  1801,  the  day  he  came  into  office,  hod  passed  a  law, 
in  some  measure  regulating  a  peace  establishment  for  the 
navy.  This  law  gave  great  discretionary  authority  to  the 
president,  it  is  true,  for  it  empowered  him,  whenever  he 
should  deem  it  expedient,  to  sell  any,  or  all  of  the  vessels  of 
the  navy,  with  the  exception  of  thirteen  of  the  frigates, 
which  were  named  in  the  act,  as  in  his  opinion  the  good  of 
the  country  might  require.  To  this  part  of  the  law  no 
groat  objections  could  be  taken  even  by  the  friends  of  an 
enlarged  and  liberal  policy,  as  most  of  the  vessels  not  ex- 
cepted had  been  bought  into,  and  were  unsuiled  to  the  ser- 
vice, more  especially  at  a  period,  when  new  improvements 
in  naval  architecture,  that  hud  been  borrowed  from  the 
French,  were  fast  superseding  the  old  mode  of  construction. 

The  law  also  directed  the  guns  and  stores  of  the  vessels 
sold  to  be  preserved,  a  provision  that  proved  singularly  un- 
profitable in  the  end,  as  the  carronade  now  began  to  super- 
sede the  small  long  gun,  in  naval  warfare,  and  two  of  the 
sloops  would  probably  have  supplied  all  the  nines  and  sixes 
that  have  been  used  in  the  navy  for  the  last  five  and  thirty 
years.  But  the  most  capital  error  of  this  law  was  in  the 
limitation  it  set  to  the  lists  of  the  different  ranks  of  officers. 
The  whole  of  the  sea-officers,  sailing  masters  excepted, 
were  confined  to  nine  captains,  thirty-six  lieutenants,  and 
one  hundred  and  fifty  midshipmon;  the  rank  of  master 
commandant  being  abolished,  should  the  president  see  fit  to 
discharge  those  then  in  commission.  The  phraseology,  as 
well  as  the  provisions  of  this  law,  betrayed  that  ignorance 
of  the  details  of  the  service,  which  has  been  so  common  in 
the  legislation  of  the  country,  omitting  many  directions  that 
were  indispensable  in  practice,  and  laying  stress  on  others 
that  were  of  little,  or  no  moment. 

Notwithstanding  all  the  accusations  brought  against  it,  at 


fi 


•<i^ 


tt  f 


332 


■V 


\  I'if 


NAVAL  BISTORT. 


%. 


-.-^ 


;<'?  ,t*-V 


the  time,  the  administration  of  1801  exercised  its  authority 
under  the  statute,  which,  it  will  he  remembered,  was 
enacted  previously  to  its  accession  to  office,  with  a  reason- 
able discretion,  and  though  it  may  have  made  a  few  of  those 
mistakes  that  are  incidental  to  the  discharge  of  all  such 
trusts,  it  conformed  to  the  spirit  of  the  law,  with  a  due  re- 
gard to  liberality.  Mr.  Jeflerson  soon  discovered,  as  it  falls 
to  the  lot  of  ail  strong  oppositionists  to  discover,  when  they 
attain  their  wishes,  that  he  must  follow  in  the  footsteps  of  his 
predecessor  in  managing  most  of  the  ordinary  interests  of 
the  nation,  though  the  party  that  went  out  of  power  did  not 
appear  to  recognise  the  wholesome  but  unanswerable  truth, 
that,  in  the  nature  of  things,  all  administrations  must  be 
right,  in  their  mode  of  treating  a  vast  majority  of  the  con- 
cerns entrusted  to  their  care.  The  selection  of  the  officers 
to  be  retained  was  one  of  great  delicacy  and  importance, 
as  the  future  character  of  the  navy  depended  more  on  the 
proper  discharge  of  this  duty,  than  on  that  of  any  other.  The 
great  defect  of  the  law,  indeed,  was  the  narrow  limits  to  which 
the  list  of  the  superior  sea  officers  was  confined,  it  being 
at  all  times  easier  to  build  ships,  than  to  form  professional 
men  fit  to  command  them.  This  part  of  his  delegated 
duties,  the  president  discharged  in  perfect  good  faith,  ap- 
parently altogether  disregarding  party  considerations.  We 
give  in  notes*  the  names  of  the  superior  officers  who  were  in 
service,  at  the  close  of  the  war  with  France,  as  a  subject  of 
historical  interest  with  the  country,  and  we  add  the  names 
of  all  the  quarter-deck  officers  who  were  retained,  to  which 
gentlemen  the  nation  must  look  for  those  who  perfected  the 
school  which  has  since  reflected  so  much  credit  on  the 
American  name. 

Although  some  meritorious  officers  were  necesakrily  dis- 
missed, on  this  occasion,  there  is  no  question  that  the  navy 


.j;*,: 


See  Note  C,  Appendix. 


*^'  -fH^-f' 


'*^* 


-i'^-i 


"^n 


■■■r 


cj^A. 


■,*,;-t'«f' 


^'  •..' 


v\- 


m 


■('  ■    Jiff 


KAVAL  BISTORT. 


333 


was  greatly  benefited  by  the  reduction ;  the  hurried  man- 
ner in  which  the  appointments  were  originally  made, 
having  been  the  means  of  introducing  many  persons  into 
the  service,  who  were  unfitted  for  its  duties.  There  was 
also  some  irregularity  in  the  mode  of  reduction,  the  name 
of  Capt.  M'Niell  not  appearing  on  the  list  of  the  retained 
captains,  though  it  is  certain  that  he  commanded  the  Boston 
as  late  as  1802.  This  discrepancy  can  only  be  accounted 
for  by  supposing  that  a  discretion  was  used  in  retaining  a 
few  more  officers  than  the  legal  number,  with  a  view  to 
ascertain  if  all  those  who  were  first  selected  might  choose  to 
serve.  In  the  case  of  Capt.  M'Niell,  he  was  on  foreign  ser- 
vice at  the  time  the  reduction  was  made. 

The  law  of  Congress  directed  that  thirteen  vessels,  named 
in  the  act,  should  not  be  disposed  of,  leaving  it  discretionary 
with  the  president  to  sell  the  remainder  or  not.  The  fol- 
lowing were  the  ships  retained,  viz:  , 


The  Constitution 

44, 

New  York 

36, 

United  States 

44, 

Essex 

32, 

President 

44, 

General  Greene 

28, 

Congress 

38, 

Boston 

28, 

Constellation, 

38, 

Adams 

28, 

Chesapeake 

38, 

John  Adams 

28, 

Philadelphia 

38, 

We  have  set  down  the  rates  of  these  ships  at  what  they 
ought  to  have  been,  in  order  to  give  a  more  accurate  com- 
parative idea  of  the  true  force  of  the  different  vessels,  taking 
the  English  system  as  a  guide.  The  only  vessel  that  the 
president  decided  to  retain,  in  addition  to  the  ships  named 
in  the  law,  was  the  Enterprise  12,  and  by  adding  this 
schooner  to  the  list  just  given,  the  reader  will  obtain  an 
accurate  idea  of  the  navy,  as  reduced  in  1801. 

The  remainder  of  the  ships  were  sold.  We  give  a  list  of 
their  names  and  rates,  marking  those  which  were  expressly 


•y.. 


•4 


-.* 


-4iv 


..  ■  '?''•- 


}m 


.*)' 


^. 


'W 


* 


7/ 


334 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


built  for  the  public  service  with  an  asterisk,  to  distinguish 
them  from  those  that  were  not,  viz: 


George  Washington 

24, 

Herald 

18, 

\  ■'  ' 

Ganges 

24, 

♦Trumbull 

18» 

'■   *Portstnouth 

24, 

♦Warren 

18, 

♦Merrimack    , 

24, 

^Norfolk 

18, 

M. 

♦Connecticut 

24, 

♦Richmond 

18, 

vv: 

Baltimore, 

20, 

♦Pinckney 

18, 

,/ 

Delaware 

20, 

♦Eagle 

,14, 

f' 

Montezuma 

20, 

♦Augusta 

14, 

♦Maryland 

18, 

♦Scammel 

14, 

' 

♦Patapsco  ' 

18, 

♦Experiment 

12, 

And  nine  Galleys. 

While  it  is  certain  that  a  navy  with  only  one  small  crui- 
ser, must  be  very  insufficient  for  a  service  like  that  of  the 
United  States,  the  government  ought  not  to  be  censured  for 
its  selection,  though  it  was  loudly  condemned  at  the  time. 
In  nothing  had  the  art  of  naval  architecture  made  greater 
progress,  within  the  few  preceding  years,  than  in  the  mode 
of  constructing  vessels  of  war  below  the  class  of  frigates. 
The  carronade  was  now  fast  superseding  the  light  long 
gun  every  where,  and  it  became  the  aim  of  those  who 
were  charged  with  the  duty  of  preparing  armaments,  to  put 
guns  that  would  throw  as  heavy^  shot  as  possible,  into  the 
sloops  of  war.  The  ships  that  rated  eighteen,  instead  of 
carrying  sixes,  or  nines,  or  even  twelvea,  began  to  carry 
thirty-two  pound  carronades,  and  they  required  greater 
strength,  thicker  bulwarks,  and  larger  ports  than  it  had 
been  the  custom  formerly  to  give  to  vessels  of  their  class. 
Many  of  the  ships  sold,  had  been  constructed  in  a  hurry, 
and  of  inferior  timber,  and  it  is  as  unprofitable  to  continue 
expending  money  in  repairs  on  a  vessel  with  a  ^^efcctive 
frame,  as  it  is  to  waste  it  on  a  house  that  is  known  to  be 
without  a  sufficient  foundation.  <^ 

The  reduction  of  the  navy,  moreover,  was  greatly  exag- 


..  •* 


'i>?- 


m' 

^,-', 

■^ 


Sjv, 


K,-*- 


^^ 


■'^ 


•.-p. 


WK'-i 


v,-" 


■■■m.. 


m 


•0- 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


335 


gerated  at  the  time,  so  far  as  the  vessels  alone  were  con- 
cerned.  At  the  peace  with  France,  the  cruising  vessels  in 
service  were  thirty-four  in  number,  and  of  these,  fourteen  of 
the  best  were  retained.  No  frigate,  unless  the  Geo.  Wash* 
ington  could  be  considered  one,  was  sold,  and  this  ship  had 
been  purchased  into  the  service,  and  not  built  for  the  public. 
As  regards  force,  materially  more  than  half,  perhaps  four- 
fifths,  was  preserved,  the  eight  largest  frigates  retained 
being  more  than  strong  enough  to  contend  with  all  the  ves- 
sels sold.  This  was  not  the  opinion  of  the-  day,  however, 
for  interested  political  clamour  was  directed  by  ignorance, 
and  most  men  counted  one  gun  as  another,  without  refer- 
ence to  its  weight,  or  its  disposition  in  the  vessel.  The  most 
impolitic  of  the  measures  of  the  government,  and  it  was  one 
of  which  it  soon  had  reason  to  repent,  was  the  law  suspend- 
ing the  construction  of  the  six  ships,  to  carry  not  less  than 
seventy-four  guns  each,  authorized  by  the  act  of  1798.* 

The  recklessness  of  political  opposition  soon  made  itself 
apparent,  in  its  usual  inconsiderate  and  acrimonious  forms; 
a  recommendation  that  emanated  from  the  government,  for 
the  establishment  of  dry-docks,  one  of  the  first  and  most 
important  measures  in  the  formation  of  a  serviceable  ma- 
rine, meeting  with  all  the  ridicule  that  ignorance  and  hosti- 
lity could  invent,  even  from  those  who  professed  to  be  the 
strongest  friends  of  the  navy.  Profiting  by  the  most  vulgar 
association  that  a  want  of  knowledge  could  connect  with  the 
word  "dry,"  the  papers  of  the  day  kept  ringing  the  changes 
on  this  tunc,  virtually  accusing  the  administration  of  wish- 
ing to  have  a  navy  on  shore!  It  is,  however,  just  to  add, 
that  the  views  of  the  president  extended  a  little  beyond  the 
common  practice,  his  recommendation  going  so  far  as  to 
advise  docks  for  the  preservation,  as  well  as  for  the  repairs, 

•  The  materials  collected  for  these  vessels,  principally  live-oak  timber, 
were  to  have  been  preserved;  but  much  of  the  latter  was  subsequently 
used  in  the  construction  of  smaller  ships,  and  frequently  to  great  waste. 


*5%-^ 


*l' 


* 


«&. 


..^ii.^- 


% 


J^*'^ 


^ 


m 


\ri: 


838 


NAVAL  BISTORT. 


t^  of  ships.  Thus  did  the  gallant  little  service,  vrhich  already 
1^  merited  so  much  from  the  nation,  and  which  is  so  insepara- 
bly  connected  with  all  the  great  considerations  of  national 
character,  national  rights,  and  even  of  national  existence, 
find  itself  compelled  to  struggle  through  its  infancy,  equally 
assailed  by  its  nominal  friends,  who  were  injuring  its  vitals 
while  loudest  in  their  professions  of  amity,  and  distrusted  by 
those  who,  having  made  the  cry  of  economy  a  stalking 
horse  in  their  way  to  power,  shrunk  from  the  heavy  charges 
that  this,  like  all  other  complete  means  of  national  defence, 
must  unavoidably  entail  on  the  public.  Still  it  preserved  its 
spirit,  and  finding  itself  relieved  from  the  association  of 
those  who  were  never  worthy  to  wear  its  livery,  and  be- 
lieving, with  truth,  that  in  passing  a  peace  without  dissolu- 
tion, it  saw  a  flattering  perspective  of  service  before  it, 
the  gallant  corps  that  remained,  prepared  itself  to  enter 
on  its  new  duties  with  the  confidence  and  zeal  of  men 
who  felt  that  they  had  fairly  embarked  in  an  honourable 
profession  for  life. 

This  period  may  be  deemed  that  whieb  produced  the 
crisis  in  the  fate  of  the  American  navy.  At  the  peace  of 
178.3,  the  service  had  been  entirely  disbanded,  and  even  the 
preparations  commenced  in  1794,  had  been  suspended  when 
peace  was  made  with  Algiers,  leaving  little  besides  the 
name  of  a  marine  behind  them.  The  relations  of  the  coun- 
try with  Tripoli,  one  of  the  Barbary  powers,  doubtless,  had 
its  influence  on  the  fortunes  of  the  service  at  this  particular 
moment,  the  government  feeling  the  necessity  of  being  in 
readiness  to  resist  the  aggressions  of  another  of  those  semi- 
pirates  who  then  infested  the  Mediterranean.  '^ 

In  the  mean  time,  the  proper  officers  proceeded  to  carry 
out  the  conditions  of  the  recent  treaty  entered  into  with 
France,  agreeably  to  the  conditions  of  which,  all  the  ves- 
sels of  war  captured  on  either  side  were  to  be  restored. 
The  Insurgente  having  been  lost,  this  stipulation  became 


.^-.. 


W^' 


4,- 


'i^' 


i:'-^ 


w 


iSSk 


m 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


387 


^/ 


.#.* 


m^ 


^■-. 


impracticable  as  regarded  her;  but  le  Berceali,'  and  la 
Vengeance,  the  small  cruiser  taken  by  the  TrdmbuU, 
were  returned  to  the  French.  In  the  whole,  eighty  prizes 
had  been  brought  into  the  American  ports,  and  of  these, 
three  were  the  vessels  of  war  already  mentioned.  Most  of 
the  remainder  were  privateers.  Of  the  l'>tter,  eight  were 
acquitted  as  illegal  captures,  one,  le  Croyable,  was  retaken, 
and  the  remaining  sixty-eight  were  condemned  and  sold. 

The  loss  of  American  shipping  in  this  war  was  consider- 
able ;  but  fewer  vessels  were  taken,  in  proportion,  after  hos- 
tilities had  commenced  on  the  side  of  this  country,  than  had 
been  previously  seized.  No  vessel  of  war  but  the  Retalia- 
tion, fell  into  the  hands  of  the  French,  under  any  circum- 
stances. 

On  the  whole,  the  country  was  satisfied  with  the  results 
of  the  exertions  it  had  made  during  this  irregular  and 
informal  contest,  and  a  strong  feeling  was  awakened  in 
favour  of  a  permanent  navy.  Whatever  may  have  been 
the  private  opinions  of  the  new  president  on  this  important 
branch  of  national  policy, — and  it  is  believed  they  were 
neither  as  liberal,  nor  as  far-sighted,  as  comported  with 
his  views  in  general,  though  they  were  far  from  merit- 
ing all  the  reproaches  they  received, — he  put  at  the  head 
of  the  department,  Mr.  Robert  Smith,  of  Maryland,  a 
gentleman  who  rendered  himself  justly  popular  with  the 
service,  who  continued  for  the  long  space  of  nine  years  to 
serve  its  interests  with  zeal  and  intelligence,  and  who  has 
left  behind  him,  in  the  breasts  of  all  who  then  composed  the 
navy,  a  feeling  that  while  their  interests  were  in  his  care, 
they  were  intrusted  to  one  well  disposed  to  serve  the  coun- 
try and  themselves.  ,      v^v»    -     ,^  >.  . 

In  the  war  with  France,  very  few  privateers  went  to  sea, 

that  country  having  little  trade  to  suffer  by  such  enterprises, 

^  thou);h  scarcely  a  merchantman  sailed  without  an  arma- 

'  ment,  and  a  crew  at  least  double  that  she  would  have  car- 

VoL.  I.— 29 


«"  •*;■, 


:"^^- 


•'V.*:. 


«n' 


c  .'fc-' 


■Wliiili 


1''^ 


r 


,^' 


*;■ 


838 


NAVAL  BISTORT. 


\ 


.:^, 


\rr 


k 


'rS, 


■* 


ried  in  a  iime  of  peace.  The  years  1798,  1709  and  1800, 
"were  Virtually  years  of  a  general  maritime  Avar,  and  the 
English  navy,  that  great  drain  of  seamen  for  the  entire 
^»  v^ivilized  world,  was  as  actively  employed  as  at  any  pre- 
vious or  subsequent  period  of  its  teeming  history.  Notwith- 
standing these  circumstances,  the  American  government, 
while  it  suffered  many  inconveniences  from  the  shortness  of 
the  enlistments,  found  no  difficulty  in  obtaining  men  during 
this  struggle,  although  a  number  but  little  short  often  thou- 
sand must  have  been  constantly  employed  during  the  year 
1800.  At  that  time,  the  tonnage  of  the  country  was  about 
half  what  it  is  to-day,  as  was  also  the  total  number  of  seamen. 
The  enemy  was  very  active,  a  fact  that  is  proved  by  the 
circumstance  that  more  French  privateers  were  taken  and 
destroyed  by  the  vessels  of  the  American  navy  alone,  in  the 
West-Indies,  than  the  country  sent  cruisers  to  sea,  at  any 
period  of  the  war.  Including  the  revenue  vessels  employed 
in  1798  and  1799,  America  had  at  sea  forty-two  different 
cruisers  during  the  three  years  of  this  contest;  and  their 
captures,  limiting  them  to  the  vessels  that  were  actually 
taken  into  port,  amounted  within  two  to  double  this  number; 
and  of  these,  considerably  more  than  half  were  privateers 
of  the  enemy.  Still  we  find  the  trade  but  little  interrupted, 
after  the  armaments  were  made.  In  1797,  when  America 
had  not  a  vessel  of  war  in  commission,  the  exports  of  the 
country  amounted  to  a  little  more  than  $57,000,000;  in 
1798,  when  the  coast  was  cleared  of  the  French  privateers, 
and  the  war  was  carried  first  into  the  West-Indies,  these  ex- 
ports reached  to  $61,327,411;  in  1799,  to  $78,665,628;  and 
in  1900,  to  $70,971,780.  Some  fluctuations  in  trade  probably 
produced  the  diminution  of  the  latter  year,  as  the  American 
coast  was  then  nearly  unapproached  by  the  French.  This 
truth,  indeed,  quite  clearly  appears  by  the  revenue  on  im- 
ports, which,  in  the  same  three  years,  was  as  follows: 
1798,  $7,106,061;  1799,  $0,610,449;  1800,  $9,080,933. 


4' 


-1^: 


k\ 


S- 


■'"*, 


;t?« 


.# 


NAVAl.  HISTORY. 


# 


880 

This  war,  like  every  maritime  contest,  in  whicK  America 
has  been  engaged  with  any  civilized  nation,  was  also  dis- 
tinguished by  many  obstinate  actions  between  letters  of 
marque  and  cruisers  of  the  enemy.  The  papers  of  the  day 
are  full  of  accounts  of  this  nature,  and,  although  they  ar .-  not 
altogether  free  from  the  suspicion  of  exaggerations,  or  worn 
the  boastfu!  representations  of  most  similar  ex  parte  state- 
n<^nts,  it  is  known  that  some  are  essentially  true.  Among 
•  ^r  combats  of  this  i  \:::-'^^  'vas  one  which  deserves  to  be 
mentioned,  not  only  on  account  of  the  general  gallantry  of 
the  defence,  but  of  the  presence  of  mind  displayed  at  a 
most  critical  moment  by  a  young  man  of  Philadelphia,  un- 
der age,  who,  we  regret  to  add,  wa^s  lost  at  sea,  in  the  suc- 
ceeding voyage,  and,  becau.se  the  facts  are  derived  from 
a  source  that  put  them  beyond  dispute. 

In  the  course  of  the  year  1800,  a  lightly  armed  letter  of 
marque  brig,  belonging  to  Philadelphia,  called  the  Louisa, 
was  standing  into  Gibraltar,  when  several  privateers  came 
out  of  Algesiras,  as  was  the  practice  of  the  French  in  that 
day,  to  cut  her  off  from  her  port.  A  long  and  desultory 
action  ensued,  in  the  course  of  which  one  latine-rigged 
vessel  full  of  men  pressed  the  Louisa  hard,  and  made 
several  bold  efforts  to  board,  in  all  of  which,  however,  she 
was  frustrated.  The  crew  of  the  Louisa  consisted  of  only 
a  few  men,  and  when  their  captain  fell,  with  a  shot  through 
his  shoulder,  and  the  mate  went  below  for  a  moment  to  lay 
him  in  the  cabin,  believing  that  the  battle  was  over,  they 
deserted  their  guns  in  a  body,  going  down  into  the  fore- 
castle, with  the  exception  of  the  man  at  the  wheel.  At 
that  moment  the  enemy  was  at  a  little  distance,  kee^^ing  up 
his  fire,  and,  it  was  thought,  making  preparations  for  a  fresh 
attempt  to  board.  With  a  view  to  meet  this  effort,  the 
quarter-deck  guns  of  the  brig  had  been  properly  loaded  and 
trained,  but  when  the  mate,  after  an  absence  of  only  three 
or  four  minutes,  re-appeared  on  deck,  one  passenger  ex- 
•4-    f*    ' 


-    •« 


^■*'^. 


m 


•-* 


.  >.■ 


840 


If  AVAL  HISTORY. 


oopted,  there  was  not  a  soul  to  sustain  him,  while  the  enemy 
Vas  luffing  up  under  his  lee  quarter,  with  his  forecastle 
crowded,  and  a  long  bowsprit  lined  with  boarders,  ready 
to  take  the  leap.  He  knew  if  the  latter  gained  the  brig's 
decks,  resistance  would  be  out  of  the  question,  even  if  all 
on  board  were  at  their  stations.  This  was  a  critical 
instant  for  so  young  a  man;  but  be  was  a  seaman  of  Phila- 
delphia, the  port  that  then  furnished  the  readiest,  the  best, 
and  many  of  the  bravest  mariners  that  sailed  out  of  Amer- 
ica. He  ran  to  the  fore-scuttle  and  summoned  the  people 
up,  "to  get  a  last  shot  at  the  Frenchmen,  before  they 
should  get  out  of  their  reach!''  Such  an  appeal  admitted 
of  no  delay.  The  men  rushed  on  deck  with  cheers,  were 
instantly  ordered  to  their  guns,  and  were  in  time  to  meet 
the  enemy.  A  raking  fire  was  poured  in,  the  bowsprit 
was  swept  of  its  boarders,  the  privateer  tacked  and  hayled 
off,  and  the  brig  was  permitted  to  proceed  without  further 
molestation.  The  Louisa  entered  the  roads  of  Gibraltar  in 
triumph,  the  engagement  having  been  witnessed  by  thou- 
sands on  the  rock.    ,         ., ,. 


■f'  „  *  • 


4  , 


,'l    .)•,-..    V, 


«■. 


/••-'V'^':- 


,t*      » 


«• 


\  . 


IW 


^^mi- 


".'* 


'  » 


MAVAL  HUTORr. 


*,''.»* 


•*, 


m 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 


■■<h 


;w. 


Wb  have  now  reached  the  period  when  the  American 
marine  assumed  a  fixed  and  permanent  character.    No 
more  reductions  were  anticipated  by  thosu  who  understood 
the  necessities  of  the  country,  nor  have  any  over  been 
seriously  attempted.    Some  little  time  necessarily  elapsed 
before  it  could  be  ascertained  which  of  the  oliicers  se- 
lected might  choose  to  remain  in  service,  and  resignations 
I  ,  .'   were  frequent  for  many  succeeding  years,  in  consequence 
^   of  the  narrow  limits  to  which  the  policy  of  the  day  had  re- 
;.,..    duced  this  important  branch  of  the  public  service,  but, 
from  that  time  to  this,  no  officer  has  ever  been  compelled  to 
abandon  (he  profession,  in  consequence  of  the  wish  to  re- 
trench, or  of  a  disposition  to  reduce  the  establishment 
The  security  which  this  state  of  things  tended  to  create  has 
been  gradually  increasing,  until  it  would  be  scarcely  too 
much  to  say,  that  both  the  country  and  the  navy,  have 
.  got  to  consider  the  relation  which  exists  between  them  as 
permanent  and  indissoluble.    Thia  confidence  on  the  one 
hand,  and  fostering  policy  on  the  other,  have  not  been  the 
work  of  a  day,  however,  but  are  the  consequences  of  a  long 
train  of  historical  events,  that  it  has  become  our  duty  to 
record. 
It  has  already  been  said  that  the  necessities,  rather  than 
'  _     the  foresight  of  the  new  government  prevented  it  from  at 
,^.^  once  incurring  the  expense  of  a  marine,  and  it  is  probable 
that,  in  causing  such  ships  to  be  built  as  those  which  were 
k    ^  ■  '  • ,,   •  29*  -^  .•    '  . ,    " 


•jv» 


■yVi^; 


''M 


'^x*X' 


J 


*.   • 


f » 


4 


342 


MAVAL  HISTORY. 


at- 


; 


h 


faid  down  under  the  law  of  1704,  it  looked  forward  to  their 
forming  the  commencement  of  a  navy  suited  to  the  wants 
and  dignity  of  a  country,  that  all  but  those  who  were 
blinded  by  passion  and  malignancy,  could  easily  see  was 
destined  to  become  powerful.  Something,  notwithstanding, 
must  be  attributed  to  the  peculiar  condition  of  the  relations 
between  one  or  two  of  the  Barbary  States  and  the  young 
republic,  at  the  precise  moment  when  peace  was  made  with 
France,  and  in  pursuing  the  regular  chain  of  events  con- 
nected with  our  subject,  we  are  next  to  turn  our  eyes  to- 
wards the  Mediterranean  and  to  the  coast  of  Africa,  as 
their  scene. 

As  early  as  in  1800,  the  Bashaw  of  Tripoli,  Jussuf  Cara- 
malli,  who  had  deposed  his  brother  Hamet,  and  now  sat  on 
the  throne  of  this  dependency  of  the  Porte,  manifested  a 
disposition  to  war.    He  had  learned  the  concessions  made 
to  Algiers,  the  manner  in  which  the  Dey  of  that  regency 
had  been  bribed  to  do  justice,  and,  by  a  course  of  reasoning 
that  was  certainly  plausible,  if  not  true,  he  inferred  that  the 
government  which  l^ad  been  induced  to  pay  tiibute  to  one 
pirate,  might  be  induced  to  pay  tribute  to  another.    The 
complaints  on  which  this  semblance  of  royalty  grounded 
his  justification  for  war,  are  such  as  ought  to  be  gene- 
rally known.    He  accused  the  American  government  of 
having  bribed  the  subordinates  of  Tunis  at  a  higher  price 
jthatl  it  had  bribed  him;  he  added,  that  Algiers  had  re- 
:^ 'a  frigate,  while  he  had  received  none;  and  even 
t|er  to  the  president  he  said  significantly,  in  reply 
iso'iiriCi  of  the  usual  diplomatic  professions  of  friendship, 
••  we  could  wish  that  these  your  3xpressions  were  follow- 
ed by  deeds,  and  not  by  empty  words.     You  will  there- 
fore endeairour  to  satisfy  us  by  a  good  manner  of  pro- 
ceeding."— "But  if  only  flattcyring  words  are  meant,  without 
performance,  every  one  will  act  as  he  finds  convenient. 
We  beg  a  speedy  answer,  without  neglect  of  time,  as  a 


■•'\.\ 


.-<».•. 


■*v 


,  f         '•'♦JfV..    > 


-f*    . 


NAVAL  HISTOKY. 


348 


one 
The 
ided 
ene- 
t  of 
rice 
re-  ' 
!ven 

epiy. .  . 

ihip, 
ow- 
ere- 
pro- 

lOUt 

ient.  )< , 
IS  a  • 


■-"*    ; 


i^',.... 


delay  on  your  part  cannot  but  be  prejudicial  to  youf 
interests." 

Shortly  after,  tho  Bashaw  informed  the  American  coqaul 
at  Tripoli,  that  he  would  wait  six  months  for  a  present  in  . 
money,  and  if  it  did  not  arrive  within  that  time,  he  would 
formally  declare  war  ajainst  the  United  States.  Jussuf 
Caramalli  was  as  good  as  his  word.  No  tidings  of  the 
money  having  reached  Tripoli,  the  flag-staflf  of  the  Ameri- 
can consulate  was  cut  down  on  the  14th  of  May,  1801,  and 
war  was  proclaimed  in  the  act. 

While  Tripoli  went  so  directly  to  work,  difficulties  exist- 
ed with  the  other  states  of  Barbary.  Algiers  complained 
that  the  tribute  was  in  arrears,  and  Tunis  found  fault  with 
the  quality  of  various  articles  that  had  been  sent  to  her,  by 
way  of  bribing  her  not  to  seize  American  vessels.  Certain 
planks  and  oars  were  too  short,  and  guns  of  a  particular 
description  were  much  wanted.  Morocco  was  also  dis- 
trusted, although  the  prince  of  that  country  had  not  yet 
deigned  to  intimate  his  wishes. 

Timid  as  was  the  policy  of  the  United  States,  and  dis- 
graceful as  was  that  of  all  Christendom,  at  that  period, 
in  reference  to  the  Barbary  powers,  the  former  was  too 
much  flushed  with  its  recent  successes  against  France,  and 
too  proud  of  its  infant  marine,  to  submit  to  all  these  exac- 
tions without  resistance.  Before  it  was  known  that  Tripoli 
had  actually  declared  war,  a  squadron  was  ordered  to  be 
fitted  for  the  Mediterranean,  with  a  view  to  awe  the  differ- 
ent sovereigns  of  Barbary,  by  its  presence.  The  vessels 
selected  for  this  purpose  consisted  of  the  President  44,  Capt. 
J.  Barron,  Philadelphia  38,  Capt.  S.  Barron,  Essex  92,  Capt. 
Baiubridge,  and  Enterprise  12,  Lieut.  Com.  Sterrett.  At  the 
head  of  this  force  was  Capt.  Dale,  an  officer  whose  career 
we  have  had  frequent  occasion  to  notice,  in  the  course  of 
past  events,  and  who  now  hoisted  his  broad  pennant  in  the 
President  44.  ,  .      . 


>1 


u 


*- 


M4 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


The  instructions  given  to  Com.  Dale,  directed  him  to 
proceed  to  Gibraltar,  where  ho  could  ascertain  the  state  of 
things  among  the  distrusted  regencies,  when  he  was  to  be 
governed  by  circumstances.  Had  either  power  declared 
war,  he  was  to  act  against  it,  under  certain  restrictions; 
otherwise  he  was  to  go  off  Algiers,  Tunis,  and  Tripoli,  in 
succession,  to  deliver  presents  and  promises  at  each  place, 
and  in  the  event  of  his  succeeding  in  maintaining  the  peace, 
he  was  to  make  the  circuit  of  the  Mediterranean,  in  the 
course  of  the  summer,  re-appear  off  the  ports  of  Tripoli,Tunis 
and  Algiers,  and  the  peace  still  continuing,  he  was  ordered 
to  sail  for  home  in  October.  Should  either  of  the  regencies 
have  commenced  hostilities,  however,  he  had  discretionary 
authority  as  to  the  disposition  of  the  ships,  but  was  ordered 
to  leave  the  Mediterranean  on  the  1st  of  December,  at  the 
latest,  it  having  been  deemed  unsafe  to  cruise  in  that  sea  in 
the  winter.  -"'V  v.  ^  ■.  .;:•■:.   ,•,.:" ';v!c,»%r\< 

Soon  after  these  orders  were  received,  the  ships  rendez- 
voused in  Hampton  Roads,  and  sailed  for  their  place  of  des- 
tination. On  the  1st  of  July  they  anchored  at  Gibraltar, 
where  they  found  the  Tripolitan  admiral,  a  rencgndo  of  the 
name  of  Lisle,  in  a  ship  of  26  guns,  with  a  brig  of  16,  in 
company.  There  is  no  question  that  the  timely  appearance 
of  the  American  squadron  prevented  these  two  vessels  from 
getting  irto  the  Atlantic,  where  they  might  have  struck  a 
severe  blow  at  the  commerce  of  the  country.  The  admiral, 
however,  protested  there  was  no  war,  though  the  informa- 
tion derived  from  other  sources,  induced  Com.  Dale  to  dis- 
trust his  sincerity.  The  Essex  was  sent  along  the  north 
shore  to  collect  the  American  trade,  and  to  give  it  convoy, 
the  Philadelphia  was  ordered  to  cruise  in  the  straits  to  watch 
the  two  Tripolitans,  while  the  President  and  Enterprise 
shaped  their  course  towards  Algiers,  as  ordered.  The 
latter,  however,  soon  parted  company  from  the  President 
onduty._       .v^  '■  ;>-^         ■  ;^^'-  '   . 


'I 


,  T 


% 


# 


■■%■ 


^■ 


%f 


:r.> 


% 


^ 


|v  ^P 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


845 


The  appearance  ofr*  ship  of  the  President's  force  at  Al- 
giers and  Tunis,  had  an  extromoly  quieting  effect  on  the 
resentments  of  their  two  princes;  and  Mr.  O'Brien,  the 
consul  at  the  former  regency,  gave  it  as  his  opinion,  that 
the  arrival  of  the  squadron  in  the  Mediterranean,  had  more 
weight  in  preserving  the  peace,  than  if  the  George  Wash- 
ington,  which  vessel  was  soon  expected,  had  come  in  with 
the  tribute.         >   •    >;    '■■      ■ 

.  On  the  1st  of  August,  while  running  for  Malta,  the  En- 
terprise 12,  Lieut.  Com.  Sterrett,  fell  in  with  and  spoke  a 
pokcre-rigged  ship  of  H  guns  and  80  men,  belonging  to 
Tripoli,  that  was  known  to  be  out  on  a  cruise  against  the 
American  commerce.  Running  close  along  side,  an  action 
was  commenced  within  pistol  shot,  and  it  continued  with 
little  intermission  for  three  hours,  when  th'  Turk  submitted. 
During  the  combat,  however,  the  Tri  .  lUian  struck  three 
several  times,  twice  rc-hoisting  ^'s  colours,  and'O  ening  his 
fire  again,  when  he  thought  an  adv  intage  might  ue  obtain- 
ed by  attacking  the  Americans  unprepared.  Irritated  by 
this  treachery,  on  the  last  occasion  the  Enterprise  resumed 
her  fire  with  an  intention  to  sink  her  opponent,  but  after 
some  further  though  fruitless  resistance,  the  Turkish  cap- 
tain appeared  in  the  waist  of  his  ship,  and  threw  his  ensign 
into  the  sea,  bending  his  body  and  supplicating  for  quarter 
by  signs,  when  the  fire  of  the  schooner  was  stopped. 
'  The  name  of  the  captured  ship  was  the  Tripoli,  and  that 
of  her  rais,  or  commander,  Mahomet  Sous.  Although  the 
Turks  showed  co;<  ;•;  o,  or  desperation  would  be  a  better 
term,  this  first  trial  of  skill  with  their  trans-atlantic  enemies 
was  far  from  creditable  to  them.  The  Enterprise  raked 
her  enemy  renealedly,  and  the  consequences  were  dread- 
fully apparent  in  the  result,  60  of  the  corsair's  people 
having  been  killed  and  wounded  in  the  battle.  The  ship 
herself  was  a  wreck,  and  her  mizzen-mnst  was  shot  away. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  Enterprise  sustained  but  little  injury 


,.*- 


^' 


41 


>^'' 


^^.,. 


'»\ 


# 


Vi 


- 


346 


11 


?v 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


>  ■ 


m 


even  aloft,  and  had  not  a  man  hurt    Neither  did  she  suficr 
materially  in  her  hull. 

The  instructions  of  Lieut.  Sterrett  did  not  permit  him  to 
carry  the  Tripoli  in,  and  Lieut.  David  Porter  took  posses-  , 
sion,  and  proceeded  to  dismantle  her.  Her  armament  was 
thrown  overboard,  and  she  was  stripped  of  every  thing  but 
one  old  sail,  and  a  single  spar,  that  were  left  to  enable  her 
to  reach  port.  After  attending  to  the  wounded,  the  prize 
was  abandoned,  and  it  is  understood  a  long  time  elapsed 
before  she  got  in.  When  her  unfortunate  rais  appeared 
in  Tripoli,  even  his  wounds  did  not  avail  him.  He  was 
placed  on  a  Jack  Ass,  paraded  through  the  streets,  and  re- 
ceived  the  bastinado.  The  effect  of  this  punishment  appears 
to  have  been  different  from  what  was  expected,  for  it  is 
said  the  panic  among  the  sailors  became  so  great,  in  con- 
sequence, that  it  was  found  difficult  to  obtain  men  for  the 
corsairs  that  were  then  fitting  for  sea.  One  thing  is  certain, 
that,  though  this  war  lasted  three  years,  and  in  the  end  be- 
came both  spirited  and  active,  very  few  Tripolitan  cruisers 
ventured  from  port  during  its  continuance;  or  if  they  quitted^ 
port,  they  were  cautious  to  an  extreme  about  venturing 
from  the  land. 

By  a  message  of  Mr.  Jefferson's,  sent  to  congress  on  the 
8th  of  December,  1801,  we  learn  the  reasons  why  the 
powers  given  in  the  instructions  to  Com.  Dale,  did  not  ex- 
tend to  captures.  In  alluding  to  the  action  between  the 
Enterprise  and  the  Tripoli,  after  relating  the  facts,  the  pre- 
sident adds — ''Unauthorized  by  the  constitution  without  the 
sanction  of  congress,  to  go  beyond  the  line  of  defence,  the 
vessel,  being  disabled  from  committiiig  further  hostilities, 
was  liberated  with  its  crew.  The  legislature  will  doubtless 
consider,  whether,  by  authorizing  measures  of  offence  also, 
it  will  place  our  force  on  an  equal  footing  with  that  of  its 
adversaries." 

It  must  be  admitted  that  thij  was  carrying  the  doctrine 


*■ 


iU 


•^> 


% 


jlf 


■•*■ 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


^.4- 


't 


347 


yi: 


of  literal  construction  to  extremes.  While,  in  the  nature ^'^ 
of  things,  it  may  require  the  consent  of  two  independent  , 
sovereignties  to  change  the  legal  relations  of  the  people  of 
different  countries,  from  those  of  a  state  of  warfare  to  those 
of  a  slate  of  peace,  it  is  opposed  to  reason  and  practice  to  say 
it  is  not  competent  for  either  of  these  sovereignties,  singly, 
to  change  these  relations  from  those  of  a  state  of  peace  to 
those  of  a  state  of  war.  The  power  to  commence  hostili- 
ties, as  it  belongs  to  states,  depends  on  international  law, 
and  in  no  degree  on  the  subordinate  regulations  of  particu- 
lar forms  of  government.  It  is  both  an  affirmative  and  a 
negative  right:  the  first,  as  it  is  used  by  the  party  that  de- 
clares the  war;  and  the  latter,  as  it  vests  the  nation  assail- 
ed with  all  the  authority  and  privileges  of  a  belligerent.  It 
surely  cannot  be  contended  that  the  American  citizen  who 
should  aid  a  hostile  force  sent  against  his  country,  would 
not  be  guilty  of  treason,  because  congress  had  not  yet  de- 
clared war,  though  the  enemy  had;  and  it  is  equally  falla- 
cious to  maintain  that  one  nation  can  carry  on  war,  clothed 
with  all  the  powers  of  a  belligerent,  without,  by  the  very 
act,  vesting  its  enemy  with  the  same  rights.  The  provision 
of  the  constitution  which  places  the  authority  to  declare 
war  in  congress,  can  only  allude  to  the  exercise  of  the  af- 
firmative authority;  and  to  advance  a  contrary  doctrine, 
is  to  impair  that  absolute  and  governing  principle  of  reci- 
procity on  which  all  international  law  depends.  As  it  would 
be  possible  for  a  nation  in  Europe  to  declare  war  against  a 
nation  in  America  many  weeks  before  the  fact  could  be 
known  to  the  party  assailed,  the  former,  if  the  doctrine  of 
Mr.  Jefferson  were  true,  would  evidently  be  enjoying  a 
privilege  all  that  time,  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  latter, 
that  is  equally  opposed  to  common  sense  and  justice.  The 
error  of  this  opinion  was  in  supposing  that,  by  curtailing 
and  dividing  the  powers  of  their  servants,  the  people  of  the 
United  States  meant  to  limit  the  rights  of  the  nation.  What 


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renders  the  course  of  the  executive  still  more  singular,  is 
the  fact  that  Com.  Dale  had  established  a  blockade,  and  ac- 
tually captured  neutrals  that  were  entering  Tripoli,  as  will 
be  presently  seen.  y^;.  .  =•  -  ■  ^;..  ••*  'V  *i  '•  ^^'w, ' 
5  The  President  appeared  off  Tripoli  on  the  24th  of  August, 
when  an  ineffectual  attempt  was  made  to  establish  a  truce. 
Remaining  eighteen  days  in  the  vicinity  of  the  town,  and 
discovering  no  movement  in  or  about  the  port.  Com.  Dale 
ran  down  the  coast  some  distance,  when  he  crossed  over  to 
Malta,  in  order  to  water  his  ship.  As  soon  as  this  necessa- 
ry duty  was  performed,  the  President  returned  to  Tripoli, 
and  on  the  30th  of  August,  she  overhauled  a  Greek  ship 
bound  in,  with  a  cargo  of  merchandise  and  provisions.  On 
board  this  vessel  was  an  officer  and  20  Tripolitan  soldiers, 
besides  20  other  subjects  of  the  regency.  All  these  persons 
were  taken  on  board  the  frigate,  and  an  attempt  was  made, 
by  means  of  this  lucky  capture,  to  establish  a  system  of  ex- 
change. The  negotiations  were  carried  on  through  Mr. 
Nissen,  the  Danish  consul,  a  gentleman  whose  name,  by 
means  of  his  benevolence,  philanthropy  and  probity,  has  be- 
come indissolubly  connected  with  the  history  of  the  Ameri- 
can marine.  ■  <       ■'■'■:■     V  '  , 

It  was  soon  discovered  that  the  Bashaw  cared  very  little 
about  his  subjects,  as  he  declared  that  he  would  not  ex- 
change one  American  for  all  the  soldiers.  There  was  a 
little  of  the  arts  of  the  negotiator  in  this,  however,  as  he 
agreed,  in  the  end,  to  give  three  Americans  for  all  the  sol- 
diers, the  officer  included,  and  three  more  for  eight  of  the 
merchants,  disclaiming  the  remaining  six  merchants  as  his 
subjects.  Com.  Dale  appears  to  have  become  disgusted 
with  this  unworthy  mode  of  bargaining,  for  he  sent  his  pri- 
soners on  board  the  Greek  again,  and  allowed  the  ship  to 
go  into  Tripoli,  relinquishing  his  claim  on  the  merchants 
altogether,  as  non-combatants,  and  consenting  to  take  the 
three  Americans  for  the  soldiers.      .    ^  ,. 


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349 


'  Finding  it  necessary  to  go  down  to  Gibraltar,  the  com- 
modore now  left  Tripoli,  and  proceeded  direct  to  the  for- 
mer place.  He  was  soon  succeeded  by  the  Essex,  which 
also  appeared  off  the  different  Barbary  ports. 

In  the  mean  time,  the  two  Tripolitan  cruisers  at  Gibral- 
tar, on  its  being  ascertained  that  it  was  impossible  for  them 
to  get  out  while  they  were  so  closely  watched,  were  dis- 
mantled, and  their  crews  were  privately  sent  across  to 
Teutan  in  boats,  to  find  their  way  home  by  land;  just 
men  enough  being  left  to  take  care  of  the  ships,  and  to 
navigate  them,  should  an  opportunity  occur  to  get  to  sea. 
The  Bashaw  complained  loudly  of  the  blockade,  as  an  inno- 
vation on  the  received  mode  of  warfare,  and  the  govern- 
ments of  Algiers  and  Tunis,  which  appeared  to  distrust  the 
precedent,  manifested  a  disposition  to  join  in  the  protest. 
The  Dey  of  Algiers  even  went  so  far  as  to  ask  passports  for 
the  crews  of  the  two  vessels  at  Gibraltar,  with  a  view  to  aid 
his  neighbour;  but  the  request  was  denied. 

While  passing,  in  the  manner  described,  from  one  port  to 
ahother,  an  accident  occurred,  by  which  the  President 
came  near  being  lost.  She  had  gone  into  Mahon,  and  the 
pilot;  miscalculating  his  draught  of  water,  struck  a  rock : 
on  the  starboard  hand  of  that  narrow  passage,  in  quitting* 
the  harbour.  The  ship  had  five  or  six  knots  way  on  her,  at 
the  time,  and  she  ran  up  three  or  four  feet  before  her  mo- 
tion was  lost.  It  was  a  breathless  instant,  and  the  first 
impression  was  very  general,  that  she  must  infallibly  go 
down.  Rolling  heavily,  the  hull  settled  off  towards  the 
passage,  slid  from  the  rock,  and  again  floated.  These  are 
moments  that  prove  the  training  of  the  sea-officer,  as  much 
as  the  more  brilliant  exploits  of  battle.  The  commodore 
instantly  appeared  on  dev-k,  and  issued  his  orders  with 
coolness  and  discretion.  The  ship  stood  through  the  nar- 
row outlet,  and  having  g  )t  room,  she  was  brought  to  the 
wind,  until  the  extent  of  the  danger  could  be  ascertain- 

VoL.  I.— 30 


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VAVAL  HISTORY. 


j^'Ltt .' 


ed.  On  sounding  the  pumps,  no  more  than  the  usual 
quantity  of  water  was  found,  and  confidence  began  to  be 
restored.  Still  it  was  deemed  imprudent  to  run  off  the 
land,  as  the  working  of  so  large  a  ship,  in  a  heavy  sea, 
might  open  seams  that  were  yet  tight.  But  the  elements 
were  against  the  vessel,  for  heavy  weather  set  in,  and  that 
night  it  blew  a  gale  of  wind.  Under  the  circumstances, 
Com.  Dale  decided  to  run  for  Toulon,  as  the  most  eligible 
port  in  which  to  repair  his  damages.  This  place  was  reach- 
ed in  safety,  when  the  ship  was  stripped,  lightened^  hove 
out  and  examined.  ^**\,         * 

'  As  soon  as  a  vie\y  was  obtained  of  the  stem  as  low 
as  its  junction  with  the  keel,  every  one  became  conscious 
of  the  danger  that  the  vessel  had  run.  A  large  piece  for- 
ward  had  been  literally  twisted  off,  and  a  part  of  the  keel, 
for  several  feet,  was  broomed  like  a  twig.  Nothing  saved 
the  ship  but  the  skilful  manner  in  which  the  wood-ends  had 
been  secured.  Instead  of  the  ends  of  the  planks  having 
been  let  into  a  rabbetting  grooved  in  the  stem  itself,  they  had 
been  fastened  into  one  made  by  the  junction  of  the  apron- 
piece  and  the  stem,  so  that  when  the  piece  was  wrenched 
off,  the  seams  of  the  wood-ends  remained  tight.  The  French 
officers,  who  discovered  great  science  and  mechanical  skill 
in  making  the  repairs,  expressed  their  delight  at  the  mode 
of  fastening  that  had  been  adopted,  which  it  is  believed  was 
then  novel,  and  they  were  so  much  pleased  with  the  model 
of  the  frigate  generally,  that  they  took  accurate  measure- 
ments of  all  her  lines.* 

♦  On  this  occasion,  the  President  was  hove  out  on  one  side  only.  In 
order  to  fasten,  caulk  and  copper  underneath  the  keel,  the  following  in- 
genious plan  was  adopted:  A  deep  punt,  or  scow,  was  sunk,  by  means  of 
ballast,  until  its  upper  edge  was  brought  nearly  a-wash.  This  scow  had 
three  compartments,  one  in  the  centre  to  hold  the  ballast,  and  one  in 
each  end  to  contain  a  workman.  When  suiHciently  down  in  the  water, 
the  scow  was  floated  beneath  the  keel,  and  m  the  workman  stood  erect. 


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It  has  been  said  that  the  return  of  Com.  Dale's  squadron 
was  ordered  to  take  place  on  the  1st  of  December,  at  the 
latest,  but  discretionary  powers  appear  to  have  been  subse- 
^    quently  given  to  him,  as  he  left  the  Philadelphia  and  Essex 
behind  him,  and  proceeded  home  with  his  own  ship  and  the 
"r    Enterprise.  The  practice  of  entering  men  for  only  a  twelve- 
month still  prevailed,  and  it  was  often  imperative  on  vessels 
vfr,    to  quit  stations  at  the  most  unfortunate  moments.  The  Phila- 
.'tf.   *    delphia  was  left  to  watch  the  Tripolitans,  making  Syracuse 
in  Sicily  her  port  of  resort,  while  the  Essex  was  kept  at 
the  Straits,  to  blockade  the  two  vessels  at  Gibraltar,  and 
guard  the  passage  into  the  Atlantic.    Both  ships  gave  con- 
voys when  required.  ,.. 

Thus  ended  the  first  year  of  the  war  with  Tripoli.  Al- 
though little  had  been  effected  towards  bringing  the  enemy 
to  terms,  much  was  done  in  raising  the  tone  and  discipline 
of  the  service.  At  Gibraltar,  Malta,  and  other  ports,  the 
finest  cruisers  of  Great  Britain  were  constantly  met,  and 
the  American  ships  proving  to  be  entirely  their  equals, 
in  construction,  sailing  and  manoeuvring,  a  strong  desire 
was  soon  excited  to  render  them,  in  all  other  respects,  as 
good  as  those  that  w^ere  then  deemed  the  model-ships  of  the 
world.  A  similar  opportunity  had  occurred  while  cruising 
in  the  West-Indies;  but  then  a  large  proportion  of  the  ves- 
'1^  sels  employed  were  of  inferior  qualities,  and  some  of  the 

*  officers  were  unfit  to  hold  commissions  in  any  service.   All 

the  purchased  ships  had  now  been  sold,  and  the  reduction 
law  had  cleared  the  lists  of  those  who  would  be  likely  to 
lessen  the  ambition,  or  alarm  the  pride  of  an  aspiring  and 
sensitive  marine.  Each  day  added  to  the  knowledge,  tone, 
esprit  de  corps  and  seamanship  of  the  younger  officers ;  and 


and  had  Hufficient  room  to  use  his  limbs  and  his  tools,  it  is  evident  that  he 
could  execute  his.task  as  readily  as  any  ordinary  shipwright  on  a  staging-, 
who  was  obliged  to  work  above  his  own  head. 


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NAVAL  HISTORY. 


as  these  opportunities  continued  to  increase  throughout  the 
whole  of  the  Mediterranean  service,  the  navy  rapidly  went 
on  improving,  until  the  commander  of  an  American  ship 
was  as  ready  to  meet  comparisons,  as  the  commander  of 
any  vessel  of  war  that  floated.  -.  -m'M.*'  >      '•    •" 


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CHAPTER  XIX. 


Early  in  the  year  1802,  congress  enacted  laws  that  ob- 
viated all  the  constitutional  scruples  of  the  executive,  and 
v«rhich  fully  authorized  the  capture  and  condemnation  of  any 
Tripolitan  vessels  that  might  be  found.  It  is  worthy  of  re- 
mark, that  this  law  itself  did  not  contain  a  formal  declara- 
tion of  war,  while  it  provided  for  all  the  contingencies  of 
such  a  state  of  things,  even  to  empowering  the  president  to 
issue  commissions  to  privateers  and  letters  of  marque ;  and 
it  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact,  that  it  was  supposed  the 
act  of  the  enemy  was  sufficient  to  render  the  country  tech- 
nically a  belligerent.  One  of  the  sections  of  this  law,  how- 
ever, was  of  great  service  to  the  navy,  by  enabling  crews 
to  be  shipped  for  two  years. 

As  the  President  and  Enterprise  had  returned  home,  and 
the  time  of  service  of  the  people  of  the  two  ships  that  were 
left  in  the  Mediterranean  was  nearly  up,  preparations  were 
now  made  to  send  out  a  relief  squadron.  For  this  service  the 
following  ships  were  commissioned,  viz.  the  Chesapeake  38, 
Lieut.  Chauncey,  acting  captain;  Constellation  38,  Capt. 
Murray ;  New- York  36,  Capt.  James  Barron ;  John  Adams 
28,  Capt.  Rodgers ;  Adams  28,  Capt.  Campbell ;  and  Enter- 
prise 12,  Lieut.  Com.  Sterrett.  Com.  Truxtun  was  selected 
to  command  this  squadron,  and  he  had  proceeded  to  Nor- 
folk for  that  purpose,  when  a  question  arising  about  allow- 

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NAVAL  HISTORY. 


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ing  him  a  captain  in  the  flag-ship,  ho  was  induced  to  resign.* 
Com.  Morris  was  appointed  to  succeed  Com.  Truxtun,  and 
shortly  after  he  hoisted  his  broad  pennant  in  the  Chesapeake. 

•  ThomM  Truxtun,  who  Mrill  appear  no  more  in  our  pages,  was  borh  on 
Long  Island,  New-York,  February  the  17th,  1755,  and  went  early  to  sea. 
At  the  commencement  of  the  Revolution,  he  entered  on  board  a  heavily 
armed  privateer,  in  the  capacity  of  a  lieutei  ant,  and  was  frequently  en- 
gaged with  the  enemy's  letters  of  marque  .>nd  privateers.  In  1777,  he 
commandt  '  a  private  cruiser,  called  the  independence,  with  success,  and 
shortly  afler,  he  was  transferred  tu  lUe  Mars,  a  ship  of  some  force,  in 
which  he  made  many  captures.  In  1782,  he  sailed  for  France,  in  the  let- 
ter of  marque  St.  James,  with  an  American  agent  on  board,  and  had  a 
combat  with  a  heavier  vessel,  that  had  been  expressly  sent  out  of  New- 
York  to  capture  him,  which  ship  he  beat  off  with  loss.  Capt.  Truxtun 
commanded  Indiamen  after  the  peace  of  1783,  and  in  1794,  he  was  com- 
missioned in  the  navy,  as  the  fifth  captain,  and  ordered  to  superintend  the 
construction  of  the  Constellation  38,  then  just  laid  down  at  Baltimore.  In 
this  ship  he  went  to  sea,  in  the  war  against  Franf:e,  and  in  1799,  he  cap- 
tured I'Insilrgente  36.  The  following  year,  he  h«d  the  well-known  and 
bloody  combat  with  la  Vengeance;  and  soon  after,  he  was  transferred  to 
the  President  44.  In  this  vessel.  Com.  Truxtun  made  cruises  in  the 
West-Indies  until  the  war  ended. 

Com.  Truxtun  twice  commanded  on  the  Guadalou]  station;  previously 
to  quitting  the  Constellation,  and  subsequently  to  his  hoisting  his  broad 
pennant  in  the  President.  At  one  time,  he  had  as  many  as  ten  vevela 
under  his  orders;  a  force  that  he  directed  with  zeal,  efficiency  and 
discretion.  He  was  a  good  seaman,  and  a  very  brave  man.  To  him  be- 
longs the  credit  of  having  fought  the  first  battle  under  the  present  organ- 
ization of  the  navy,  in  which  he  acquitted  himself  skilfully  and  with  suc- 
cess. The  action  with  la  Vengeance  has  always  been  considered  one  of 
the  w.'irmest  combats  between  frigates  that  is  on  record;  and  there  is  not 
the  smallest  doubt  that  he  would  have  brought  his  enemy  into  port,  but 
for  the  loss  of  his  mai.i-mast.  Congress  awarded  him  a  gold  medal  for  his 
conduct  on  that  occasion. 

It  is  said  Com.  Truxtun  did  not  intend  to  resign  his  commission  in  the 
navy,  in  1802,  but  simp^  the  command  of  the  squadron  to  which  he  had 
been  appointed.  The  construction  put  upon  his  communication  by  the 
department,  however,  was  opposed  to  this  idea,  and  he  consequently  re- 
tired to  private  life. 

After  his  resignation,  Com.  Truxtun  filled  one  or  two  civil  offices.  He 
died  in  1822,  aged  67. 


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NAVAL  HISTORY. 


9S5 


The  vessels  fitting  for  the  Mediterranean  being  in  dif- 
ferent states  of  forwardness,  and  there  existing  a  necessity 
for  the  immediate  appearance  of  some  of  them  in  that  sea, 
they  did  not  sail  in  a  squadron,  but  as  each  was  ready.  The 
Enterprise  was  the  first  that  left  home,  sailing  in  February, 
and  she  was  followed,  in  March,  by  the  Constellation.  The 
Chesapeake  did  not  get  out  until  April,  and  the  Adams  fol- 
lowed her  in  June.  The  two  other  ships  were  detained  until 
September.  There  was,  however,  one  other  vessel  at  sea, 
all  this  time,  to  which  it  will  be  necessary  to  make  a  brief 
allusion. 

Shortly  after  his  accession  to  office,  in  1801,  Mr.  Jeflfer- 
son  appointed  Mr.  Robert  R.  Livington  minister  to  France, 
and  the  Boston  28,  Capt.  M'Niell,  was  directed  to  carry  the 
new  envoy  to  his  place  of  destination.  This  duty  perform- 
ed, the  ship  had  been  ordered  to  join  the  squadron  in  the 
Mediterranean,  for  service  in  that  sea.  The  departure  of 
the  Boston  was  so  timed  as  to  bring  her  on  the  station  un- 
der both  commands,  that  of  Com.  Dale,  and  that  of  Com. 
Morris.  This  cruise  has  become  memorable  in  the  service, 
on  account  of  the  eccentricities  of  the  officer  in  command 
of  the  ship.  After  encountering  a  heavy  gale  of  wind  in 
the  Bay  of  Biscay,.in  which  he  discovered  perfect  seaman- 
ship, and  the  utmost  coolness,  under  circumstances  particu- 
larly trying,  Capt.  M'Niell  landed  his  passengers,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  the  Mediterranean.  Here  he  cruised  for  some 
time,  avoiding  his  senior  officers,  whenever  he  could,  pass- 
ing from  port  to  port,  appearing  off  Tripoli,  and  occasion- 
ally affi)rding  a  convoy.  After  a  time,  the  Boston  returned 
home,  and  was  put  out  of  commission,  her  commander  quit- 
ting the  service  under  the  reduction  law.*  The  Essex  and 
Philadelphia  also  returned  home,  as  soon  as  relieved. 

*  The  eccentricities  of  Capt.  M'Niell  have  become  traditional  in  the  ser- 
vice. While  at  Sicily,  during  this  cruise,  a  band  belonging  to  one  of  the 
regiments  quartered  at  Messina,  was  sent  on  board  the  ship,  and  lie 


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We  have  now  reached  the  summer  of  1802,  and  must 
confine  the  narrative  of  events  to  the  movements  of  the  dif- 
ferent vessels  that  composed  the  squadron  under  the  orders 
of  Com.  Morris.  In  some  respects,^  this  was  the  best  ap- 
pointed force  that  had  ever  sailed  from  America.  The 
ships  were  well  officered  and  manned,  and  the  crews  had 
been  entered  for  two  years,  or  double  the  usual  period. 
The  powers  given  to  the  commanding  officer,  appear  to 
have  been  more  ample  than  common;  and  so  strong  was  the 
expectation  of  the  government  that  his  force  was  sufficient 
to  bring  the  enemy  to  terms,  that  Com.  Morris  was  asso- 
ciated with  Mr.  Cathcart,  the  late  consul  at  Tripoli,  in  a 
commission  to  negotiate  a  peace.  He  was  also  empowered 
to  obtain  gun-boats,  in  order  to  protect  the  American  trade 

in  the  Straits  of  Gibraltar.      '    •  v 

As  there  were  but  two  means  of  bringing  the  Bashaw  of 
Tripoli  to  terms,  blockade  or  bombardment,  two  material 
errors  seem  to  have  been  made  in  the  composition  of  the 
force  employed,  which  it  is  necessary  to  mention.  There  was 
no  frigate  in  this  squadron  that  carried  a  long  gun  heavier 
than  an  eighteen-pounder,  nor  was  there  any  mortar  vessel. 
Heavy  carronades  had  come  into  use,  it  is  true,  and  most 
ships  carried  more  or  less  of  them  ;  but  they  are  guns  un- 
suited  to  battering  under  any  circumstances,  and  were  par- 
brought  the  musicians  to  America,  it  is  said,  without  their  consent.  A  por- 
tion of  these  men  were  on  their  way  back  in  the  Chesapeake,  in  1807, 
when  that  ship  was  attacked  by  the  Leopard.  On  another  occasion,  he  is 
said  to  have  sailed  from  Toulon,  leaving'  three  of  his  own  officers  on  shore, 
and  carrying  oiF  three  French  officers  who  had  been  dining  on  board, 
with  a  view  to  keep  up  his  complement!  The  latter  were  carried  across 
to  the  African  coast,  and  put  in  a  fishing  vessel;  but  many  months  elapsed 
before  all  his  own  officers  could  rejoin  their  ship.  Capt.  M'Niell  sub- 
sequently commanded  a  revenue  cutter,  and  performed  a  gptllant  thing  in 
the  war  of  1812.  He  is  said  to  have  been  the  son  of  the  Capt.  M'Niell 
who  commanded  the  Boston  24,  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution,  though  we 
possess  no  other  evidence  of  this  fact  than  common  report.  Neither  his 
seamanship,  nor  his  gallantry,  was  ever  questioned. 


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ticularly  unfitted  for  an  assault  on  works  that  it  is  difficult 
to  approach  very  near,  on  account  of  reefs  of  roclis.  There 
was  also  a  singular  deficiency  in  small  vessels,  without 
which  a  close  blockade  of  a  port  like  Tripoli,  was  extreme- 
ly difficult,  if  not  impossible.  It  will  be  remembered,  that 
the  schooner  Enterprise  was  the  only  vessel  left  in  the  navy 
by  the  reduction  law,  that  was  not  frigate-built,  and  none 
had  yet  been  launched  to  supply  the  defect.  The  govern- 
ment,  however,  had  uecome  aware  of  the  great  importance 
of  light  cruisers,  and  several  were  laid  down  in  the  summer 
of  this  year,  under  authority  granted  for  that  purpose. 

As  has  been  seen,  the  Enterprise  12,  Lieut.  Com.  Stor- 
rett,  was  the  first  vessel  of  the  new  squadron  that  reached 
the  Mediterranean.  She  was  soon  followed  by  the  Constel- 
lation 38,  Capt.  Murray,  which  ship  arrived  off  Tripoli  early 
in  May,  where  she  found  the  Boston  28,  Capt.  M'Niell, 
blockading  the  port.  The  latter  ship,  in  a  few  days,  quitted 
the  station,  and  never  re-appeared  on  it.  A  Swedish  crui- 
ser was  also  off  the  port,  assisting  to  blockade.* 

After  being  off  the  port  some  time,  the  Constellation 
was  lying  three  or  four  leagues  from  the  town,  when  the 
look-out  aloft  reported  several  small  vessels  to  the  west- 
ward, stealing  along  shore.  The  wind  was  quite  light,  and 
the  Swedish  frigate,  at  the  moment,  was  a  long  distance  out- 
side. Sail  was  got  on  the  Constellation,  and  towards  noon 
the  strangers  were  made  out  to  be  seventeen  Tripolitan 
gun-boats,  which,  as  it  was  afterwards  ascertained,  had 
gone  out  at  night,  with  the  intention  of  convoying  into  port, 
an  American  prize  that  was  expected  from  Tunis,  but 
which  had  failed  to  appear.  Fortunately,  the  wind  fresh- 
ened as  the  Constellation  drew  in  with  the  land,  and  about 
one  o'clock,  hopes  were  entertained  of  cutting  off  all,  or  a 

•  Sweden  was  at  war  with  Tripoli,  at  this  time,  also,  but  peace  was 
made  in  the  course  of  the  summer. 


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portion  of  the  enemy.  The  latter  were  divided  into  two 
divisions,  however,  and  that  which  led,  by  pulling  directly 
to  windward,  efiected  its  escape.  The  division  in  the  rear, 
consisting  of  ten  boats,  was  less  fortunate,  the  Constellation 
being  enabled  to  get  it,  for  a  short  time,  under  her  fire. 

The  wind  blew  nearly  from  the  direction  of  the  town, 
and  the  Tripolitans  still  endeavoured  to  cross  the  bows  of 
the  ship,  as  she  was  standing  in ;  but  Capt.  Murray,  having 
run  into  ten  fathoms,  opened  upon  the  enemy,  time  enough 
to  cut  off  all  but  one  boat  of  the  rear  division.  This  boat, 
notwithstanding  a  hot  discharge  of  grape,  succeeded  in  get- 
ting to  windward,  and  was  abandoned  to  attend  to  the  re- 
mainder.  The  enemy  now  opened  a  fire  in  return,  but  the 
Constellation  having,  by  this  time,  got  the  nearest  boats 
fairly  under  her  broadside,  soon  compelled  the  whole  nine 
to  bear  up,  and  to  pull  towards  the  shore.  Here  they  got 
into  nooks  behind  the  rocks,  or  in  the  best  places  of  refuge 
that  offered,  while  a  large  body  of  cavalry  appeared  on  the 
sand-hills  above  them,  to  prevent  a  landing.  Deeming  it 
imprudent  to  send  in  the  boats  of  a  single  frigate  against 
80  formidable  a  force,  Capt.  Murray  wore  and  stood  off 
shore,  soon  after  speaking  the  Swede,  who  had  not  been 
able  to  close  in  time  to  engage.  ■'^Ih.  ^^i 

This  little  affair  was  the  first  that  occurred  in  the  war, 
off  the  port  of  Tripoli,  and  it  had  the  effect  of  rendering  the 
enemy  very  cautious  in  his  movements.  The  gun-boats 
were  a  good  deal  cut  up,  though  their  loss  was  never  ascer- 
tained. The  cavalry,  also,  suffered  materially,  and  it  was 
said  that  an  officer  of  high  rank,  nearly  allied  to  the  Bey, 
was  killed.  The  Constellation  sustained  some  trifling  da- 
mage aloft,  but  the  gun-boats  were  too  hard  pressed  to  ren- 
der their  fire  very  serious.  The  batteries  opened  upon  the 
ship,  also,  on  this  occasion,  but  all  their  shot  fell  short. 

After  waiting  in  vain,  for  the  re-appearance  of  the  Bos- 
ton, Capt.  Murray  was  compelled  to  quit  the  station  for 


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want  of  water,  when  Tripoli  was  again  left  without  any 
force  before  it. 

The  Chesapeake  38,  Act.  Capt.  Chauncey,  wearing  the 
broad  pennant  of  Com.  Morris,  reached  Gibraltar  May  2fith, 
1802,  where  she  found  the  Essex  32,  Capt.  Bainbridge, 
still  blockading  the  Tripolitan  cruisers.  The  latter  vessel 
was  sent  home,  and  the  Chesapeake,  which  had  need  of 
repairs,  having  sprung  her  main-mast,  continued  in  the 
straits,  for  the  purposes  of  refitting,  and  of  watching  the  ene* 
my.  Com.  Morris  also  deemed  it  prudent  to  observe  the 
movements  of  the  government  of  Morocco,  which  had 
manifested  a  hostile  disposition.  The  arrival  of  the  Adams 
284  Capt.  Campbell,  late  in  July,  however,  placed  the  flag- 
ship at  liberty,  and  she  sailed  with  a  convoy  to  various  ports 
on  the  north  shore,  having  the  Enterprise  in  company. 
This  long  delay  below,  of  itself,  almost  defeated  the  possi- 
bility  of  acting  efficiently  against  the  town  of  Tripoli  that 
summer,  since,  further  time  being  indispensable  to  collect  the 
different  vessels  and  10  make  the  necessary  preparations,  it 
would  bring  the  ships  before  that  place  too  late  in  the  sea- 
son.  The  fault,  however,  if  fault  there  was,  rested  more 
with  those  who  directed  the  preparations  at  home,  than  with 
the  commanding  officer,  as  this  delay  at  Gibraltar  would 
seem  to  have  been  called  for,  by  circumstances.  The 
Chesapeake,  following  the  north  shore,  and  touching  at 
many  ports,  anchored  in  the  roads  of  Leghorn,  on  the  12th 
of  October.  At  Leghorn  the  Constellation  was  met,  which 
ship  shortly  after  returned  home,  in  consequence  of  a  dis- 
cretionary power  that  had  been  left  with  the  commodore.* 

*  While  the  ships  lay  at  Leghorn,  it  blew  a  g^Ie.  The  officers  of  the 
Constellation  were  on  the  quarter-deck,  just  at  dusk,  and  they  observed  a 
boat  of  the  Enterprise  goings  off  to  the  schooner,  carrying  sail  in  a  way 
that  was  thought  dangerous;  At  that  moment,  the  gentlemen  were  sum- 
moned to  their  supper,  and  while  at  table,  an  alarm  was  given,  of  a  ^lan 
overboard.    A  man,  in  fact,  was  found  hanging  to  the  rudder  chains,  and 


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Orders  were  now  sent  to  the  different  vessels  of  the  squad- 
ron to  rendezvous  at  Malta,  whither  the  commodore  pro- 
ceeded with  his  own  ship.  Here,  in  the  course  of  the 
month  of  January,  1803,  were  assembled  the  Chesapeake 
38,  Act  Capt.  Chauncey;  New  York  36,  Capt.  J.  Barron; 
John  Adams  28,  Capt.  Rodgers,  and  Enterprise  12,  Lieut. 
Com.  Sterrett.  Of  the  remaining  vessels  that  had  been  put 
under  the  orders  of  Com.  Morris,  the  Constellation  38,  Capt. 
Murray,  had  gone  into  a  Spanish  port  to  repair  some  dama- 
ges received  in  a  gale  of  wind,  and  she  shortly  after  sailed 
for  home;  the  Boston  28,  Capt.  M'Niell  had  not  joined,  and 
the  Adams  28,  Capt.  Campbell  was  cruising  off  Gibraltar. 
On  the  30th  of  January,  1803,  the  ships  first  named  left 
Malta,  with  an  intention  to  go  off  Tripoli,  but  a  severe  gale 
coming  on,  which  lasted  eleven  days,  the  commodore  was 
induced  to  bear  up,  and  to  run  down  to  Tunis,  where  it  i^M 
understood  the  presence  of  the  squadron  would  be  useful. 
On  the  11th  of  March  he  left  Tunis,  touched  at  Algiers, 
and  anchored  again  at  Gibraltar  on  the  23d  of.the  month. 

The  reason  assigned  for  carrying  the  ships  below,  when 
it  had  been  the  original  design  to  appear  off  the  enemy's 

he  was  got  in,  nearly  exhausted.  All  he  could  utter  was  "  Stetrett's  boat." 
This  recalled  the  boat  that  hfid  been  seen,  and  three  cutters  immediately 
left  the  ship,  to  search  for  the  rest  of  the  crew.  Lieutenants  went  in  the 
boats,  viz.,  the  present  Com.  Stewart,  the  present  Com.  J.  Jones,  and  the 
regretted  Caldwell.  The  night  was  vecy  dark,  it  blew  furiously,  and  the 
object  was  almost  hopeless.  The  boats  pulled  off  in  different  directions, 
and  Mr.  Jones  picked  up  a  man,  outside  the  ship.  Mr.  Caldwell,  afler  a 
long  pull,  found  no  one.  Mr.  Stewart  went  a  mile  to  leeward,  and  found  a 
man  swimming  towards  the  Melora,  and  on  returning,  against  the  wind 
and  sea,  he  met  another  senseless,  floating  with  his  arms  over  an  oar. 
Thus  were  three  men  almost  miraculously  saved,  but  the  midshipman,  Mr. 
Innes,  and  three  others  were  drowned.  The  last  man  picked  up  was  found, 
by  the  boat's  accidentally  hitting  the  oar  that  kept  him  from  sinking!  The 
circumstance  proves  the  usefulness  of  exertions,  at  such  a  moment,  how- 
ever hopeless  they  may  appear. 


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port,  was  the  want  of  provisions,  and  to  make  the  transfers 
and  arrangements  dependant  on  shifting  the  pennant  of  the 
commanding  officer,  from  the  Chesapeake  to  the  New  York, 
the  former  ship  having  been  ordered  home  by  the  navy  de- 
partment. The  squadron  was  now  reduced  to  the  New 
York  36,  the  Adams  28,  the  John  Adams  28,  and  the 
Enterprise  12.  Act.  Capt.  Chauncey  accompanied  the 
commodore  to  the  first  of  these  vessels,  and  Capt.  Barron 
was  transferred  to  the  Chesapeake.  The  Adams  was  des- 
patched with  a  convoy,  with  orders  to  go  off  Tripoli,  as 
sooa,as  the  first  duty  was  performed. 

On  the  lOlh  of  April  the  New  York,  John  Adams  and 
Enterprise  sailed,. to  touch  at  Malta,  on  their  way  to  the 
enemy's  port.  While  making  this  passage,  just  as  the  music 
had  Been  beating  to  grog,  a  heavy  explosion  was  heard 
near  the  cock-pit  of  the  flag-ship,  and  the  lower  part  of  the 
vessel  was  immediately  filled  with  smoke.  It  was  an  appall- 
ing moment,  for  every  man  on  board  was  aware  that  a  quan- 
tity of  powder,  not  far  from  the  magazine,  must  have  ex- 
ploded, that  fire  was  necessarily  scattered  in  the  passages, 
that  the  ship  was  in  flames,  and  that,  in  all  human  proba- 
bility, the  magazine  was  in  danger.  Act.  Capt.  Chauncey 
was  passing  the  drummer  when  the  explosion  occurred, 
and  he  ordered  him  to  beat  to  quarters.  The  alarm  had 
not  been  given  a  minute,  when  the  men  were  going  steadily 
to  their  guns,  and  other  stations,  under  a  standing  regula- 
tion, which  directed  this  measure  in  the  event  of  a  cry 
of  fire,  as  the  most  certain  means  of  giving  the  officers  en- 
tire command  of  the  ship,  and  of  preventing  confusion. 
The  influence  of  discipline  was  well  exhibited  on  this  trying 
occasion;  for,  while  there  is  nothing  so  fearful  to  the  sea- 
man as  the  alarm  of  fire,  the  people  went  to  their  quarters, 
as  regularly  as  in  the  moments  of  confidence. 

The  sea  being  smooth,  and  the  weather  moderate,  the 

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commodore  himself  now  issued  an  order  to  hoist  ont  the 
boats.  This  command,  which  had  been  given  under  the  in- 
fluence of  the  best  feelings  of  the  human  heart,  was  most 
unfortunately  timed.  The  people  had  no  sooner  left  the 
guns  to  execute  it,  thaj  the  jib-boom,  bow-sprit,  sprit-sail- 
yard,  knight-heads,  and  every  spot  forward  was  lined  with 
men,  under  the  idea  of  getting  as  far  as  possible  from  the 
magazine.  Some  even  leaped  overboard  and  swam  for 
the  nearest  vessel. 

The  situation  of  the  ship  was  now  exceedingly  critical. 
With  a  fire  known  to  be  kindled  near  the  magazine,  and  a 
crew  in  a  great  measure  disorganized,  the  chances  of  escape 
were  much  diminished.  But  Act.  Capt.  Chauncey  rallied  a 
few  followers,  and  reminding  them  that  they  might  as  well 
be  blown  up  through  one  deck  as  three,  he  led  the  way  be- 
low, into  passages  choked  with  smoke,  where  the  danger 
was  rapidly  increasing.  There,  by  means  of  wetted  blank- 
ets, taken  from  the  purser's  store-room,  and  water  thrown 
by  hand,  he  began  to  contend  with  the  fire,  in  a  spot  where 
a  spark  scattered  even  by  the  efforts  made  to  extinguish  the 
flames,  might,  in  a  single  instant,  have  left  nothing  of  all 
on  board,  but  their  names.  Mr.  David  Porter,  the  first 
lieutenant,  who  meets  us  in  so  many  scenes  of  trial  and 
danger,  had  ascended  from  the  ward-room,  by  means  of 
a  stern  ladder,  and  he  and  the  other  officers,  seconded  the 
noble  efforts  of  their  intrepid  commander.  The  men  were 
got  in  from  the  spars  forward,  water  was  abundantly  sup- 
plied, and  the  ship  was  saved. 

This  accident  is  supposed  to  have  occurred  in  conse- 
quence of  a  candle's  having  been  taken  from  a  lantern, 
while  the  gunner  was  searching  some  object  in  a  store- 
room that  led  from  the  cock-pit.  A  quantity  of  marine 
cartridges,  and  the  powder  horns  used  in  priming  the  guns, 
and  it  is  thought  some  mealed  powder,  exploded.  Two 
doors  leading  to  the  magazine  passage  were  forced  open. 


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and  nearly  all  the  adjoining  bulkheads  were  blown  down. 
Nineteen  officers  and  men  were  injured,  of  whom,  four- 
teen died.  The  sentinel  at  the  magazine  passage,  was 
driven  quite  through  to  the  filling-room  door. 

After  the  panic  caused  by  quitting  the  guns  to  hoist  out 
the  boats,  all  the  officers  and  people  of  the  ship,  appear  to 
have  behaved  well.  The  order  to  hoist  out  the  boats,  might 
be  explained  by  natural  affection ;  but  we  have  recorded  the 
whole  transaction,  as  it  is  replete  with  instruction  to  the 
young  officer,  on  the  subjects  of  system,  submission  to  or- 
ders, and  the  observance  of  method.* 

The  ships  appear  to  have  been  detained  some  time  at 
Malta,  by  the  repairs  that  were  rendered  necessary  in  con- 
sequence of  the  accident  just  mentioned.  On  the  9d  of 
May,  however,  the  John  Adams  wa^  sent  off  Tripoli,  alone, 
with  orders  to  blockade  that  port.  Shortly  after  this  ship 
reached  her  station,  she  made  a  sail  in  the  offing,  which 
•he  intercepted.  This  vessel  proved  to  be  the  Meshouda, 
one  of  the  cruisers  that  had  been  so  long  blockaded  at 
Gibraltar,  and  which  was  now  endeavouring  to  get  home 
under  an  assumed  character.  She  had  been  sold  by  the 
bashaw  to  the  emperor  of  Morocco,  who  had  sent  her  to 
Tunis,  where  she  had  taken  in  supplies,  ani  was  now  stand- 
ing boldly  for  the  h^i 'i:)ur  of  Tripoli.  The  reality  of  the 
transfer  was  doubted,  but  as  she  was  attempting  to  evade  a 
;-^  legal  blockade,  the  Meshouda  was  detained. 

About  the  close  of  the  mohth.  Com.  Morris  hove  in  sight, 


*  It  is  a  tradition  of  the  service,  we  kncr.'  not  on  what  foundation, 
that,  when  an  order  was  given  to  a  quarter-master  to  hoist  the  signal  of 
«*  a  fire  on  board,"  in  the  hurry  of  the  moment  he  bent  on  a  wrong  flag, 
»nd  a  signal  for  "a  mutiny  on  board,"  was  shown.  Capt.  Rodgers  of  the 
John  Adams,  observing  an  alarm  in  the  New  York,  and  smoke  issuing 
from  her  ports,  beat  to  quarters,  and  ranged  up  under  the  stern  of  the 
commodore,  with  his  guns  trained,  in  rt  tidiness  to  fire.  The  threatened 
consummation  to  a  calamity  that  was  already  sufficiently  grave,  was  pre- 
vented by  explanations. 


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384 


NAVAL  HISTORT. 


in  the  New  York,  with  the  Adams  and  Enterprise  in  com- 
pany. As  the  flag-ship  nearcd  the  coast,  several  small 
vescels,  convoyed  by  a  number  of  gun  boats,  were  dis- 
covered close  in  with  the  land,  making  the  best  of  their  way 
towards  the  port.  Chase  was  immediately  given,  and  find- 
ing themselves  cut  off  from  the  harbour,  the  merchant  ves- 
sels, eleven  in  all,  took  refuge  in  Old  Tripoli,  while  the  gun 
boats,  by  means  of  their  sweeps,  were  enabled  to  pull  under 
the  batteries  of  the  town  itself.  No  sooner  did  the  vessels, 
small  iatine-rigged  coasters  loaded  with  wheat,  get  into  Old 
Tripoli,  than  preparations  were  made  to  defend  them.  A 
large  stone  building  stood  on  a  bank  some  twelve  or  fifteen 
feet  from  the  shore,  and  it  was  occu^-icd  by  .1  considerable 
body  of  soldiers.  In  the  course]  of  the  night  breast-works 
were  erected  on  each  side  of  this  building,  by  means  of  the 
sacks  of  wheat  which  composed  the  cargoes  of  the  feluccas. 
The  latter  were  hauled  upon  the  beach,  high  and  dry,  im- 
mediately beneath  the  building,  and  a  large  force  was 
brought  from  Tripoli  to  man  the  breast-works. 

Mr.  Porter,  the  first  lieutenant  of  the  flag-ship,  volunteer- 
ed to  go  in  that  night,  with  the  boats  of  the  squadron,  and 
destroy  the  enemy's  craft;  but,  unwilling  to  expose  his  peo- 
ple under  so  much  uncertainty,  the  commodore  decided  to 
wait  for  day-light,  in  order  that  the  ships  might  co-operate, 
and  in  the  hope  of  intimidating  the  Tripolitans  by  a  show 
of  all  his  force.  Mr.  Porter,  however,  went  in  alone  and 
reconnoilered  in  the  dark,  receiving  a  heavy  fire  from  the 
musketry  of  the  troops  when  discovered. 

Next  morning,  the  offer  of  Mr.  Porter  was  accepted,  and 
sustained  by  Lieut.  James  Lawrence  of  the  Enterprise,  and 
a  strong  party  of  oflicers  and  men  from  the  other  ships,  he 
went  boldly  in,  in  open  day.  As  the  boats  pulled  up  within 
reach  of  musketry,  the  enemy  opened  a  heavy  fire,  which 
there  was  very  little  opportunity  of  returning.  Notwith- 
standing the  great  superiority  of  the  Turks  in  numbers,  the 


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party  landed,  set  fire  to  the  feluccas,  and  regaining  their 
boats,  opened  to  the  right  and  left,  to  allow  the  shot  of  the 
ships  to  complete  the  worL  The  enemy  now  appeared  as 
desperately  bent  on  preserving  their  vessels,  as  their  assail* 
ants,  a  few  minutes  before,  had  been  bent  on  destroying 
them.  Regardless  of  the  fire  of  the  ships,  they  rushed  on 
board  the  feluccas,  succeeded  in  extinguishing  the  flames, 
and,  in  the  end,  preserved  them. 

This  attack  was  made  in  the  most  gallant  manner,  and 
reflected  high  credit  on  all  engaged.  The  parties  were 
so  near  each  other,  that  the  Turks  actually  threw  stones 
at  the  Americans,  and  their  fire  was  sharp,  heavy  and 
close.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  could  never  be  ascertained, 
but  a  good  many  were  seen  to  fall.  Of  the  Americans,  13 
or  15  were  killed  and  wounded;  and  among  the  latter,  was 
Mr.  Porter,  who  received  a  slight  wound  in  the  right,  and  a 
musket  ball  through  the  left  thigh,  while  advancing  to  the 
attack,  though  he  continued  to  command  to  the  last.  Mr. 
Lawrence  was  particularly  distinguished,  as  was  Mr.  John 
Downes,  one  of  the  midshipmen  of  the  New  York.* 

Com.  Morris  determined  to  follow  up  this  attack  on  the 
wheat  vessels,  by  making  one  on  the  gun-bqats  of  the  ene- 
my. The  harbour  of  Tripoli  is  formed  by  an  irregularly 
shaped  indentation  of  the  coast,  which  opens  to  the  north. 
The  greatest  depth  is  about  a  mile  and  a  half,  and  the  width 
may  be  a  little  more.  On  its  western  side,  this  indentation 
runs  off  at  an  angle  of  about  25  degrees  with  the  coast, 
while  on  the  eastern,  the  outline  of  the  bay  melts  into  that 
of  the  main  shore  much  less  perceptibly,  leaving  the  an- 
chorage within,  a  good  deal  exposed  to  northeast  winds. 
But  at  the  point  where  the  western  angle  of  the  bay  unites 

*  It  i,i  worthy  of  remark,  that  this  is  the  fifth  instance  in  which  we 
have  had  occasion  to  record  the  g-ood  conduct  of  Lieut.  David  Porter, 
in  four  years,  and  the  third  time  he  was  wounded. 

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NAVAL  HISTORY. 


with  the  main  coast,  there  is  a  small  rocky  peninsula  that 
stretches  off  in  a  northeast  direction  a  considerable  dis- 
tance, forming  a  sort  of  natural  mole,  and,  at  the  end  of 
this  again,  an  artificial  mole  has  been  constructed  in  a  line 
extending  nearly  east-south-east.  It  is  scarcely  necessary 
to  add,  that  the  real  port  is  behind  this  mole,  in  which  there 
is  water  for  galleys,  and  where  vessels  are  sufficiently  pro- 
tected from  any  winds.  The  town,  which  is  small,  crowd- 
ed, and  walled,  stretches  along  the  shore  of  this  port,  for  less 
than  a  mile,  then  retires  inland  about  a  thousand  feet,  and 
following  the  general  direction  of  the  wall  along  the  har- 
bour, it  strikes  the  sea  again  at  the  distance  of  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  angle  at  the  point  of  junction 
between  the  bay  and  the  coast.  Of  course,  the  town 
extends  the  latter  distance  along  the  open  sea.  The 
shore,  however,  is  rocky,  though  low,  and  rocks  lie  in  sight 
at  some  distance  from  the  beach.  On  one  of  these  rocks, 
in  front  of  the  end  of  the  town  that  lies  exposed  to  the 
sea,  a  work  has  been  built  some  distance  off  in  the  water, 
which  is  called  the  French  Fort.  On  the  natural  mole  are 
batteries,  one  of  which  is  in  two  tiers;  at  the  end  of  the  ar- 
tificial mole  is  another,  and  several  are  distributed  along 
the  walls  of  the  place. 

Near  the  south-eastern  angle  of  the  town,  and  immedi- 
ately on  the  shore  of  the  port,  stands  the  Bashaw's  castle; 
the  entrance  into  the  inner  harbour,  or  galley  mole,  lying 
necessarily  between  it  and  the  mole-head ;  the  distance  be- 
tween the  two  being  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile.  The  advanc- 
ed peninsula,  which  forms  what  we  have  termed  the  natural 
m< '0,  is  surrounded  by  broken  rocks,  which  show  them- 
selves above  the  water,  but  which  suddenly  cease  within 
pistol  shot  of  Its  batteries.  At  a  distance  of  a  few  hundred 
feet,  however,  the  line  of  these  rocks  re-appears,  stretching 
ofTin  a  north-easterly  direction,  about  a  mile  further.  These 
rocks  are  broken,  and  have  many  small  passages  between 


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NAVAL  HISTORr. 


367 


them,  through  which  it  is  possible  for  boats  to  pull.  They 
form  a  sort  of  breakwater  to  the  bay,  and  the  eastern  por- 
tion of  the  latter  being  covered  with  shoals,  the  two  to- 
gether make  a  tolerably  safe  anchorage  within. 

A  little  east  of  south,  from  the  north-easterly  extremity 
of  the  rocks,  stands  fort  English,  dii?tant  rather  more  than 
a  mile,  on  an  angle  of  the  coast,  that  may  be  said  to  form 
the  eastern  point  of  th^  bay,  though  it  is  by  no  means  as 
much  advanced  as  the  western.  The  main  entrance  is  be- 
tween the  end  of  the  rocks  and  the  shoals  towards  fort 
English,  the  water  being  deep,  and  the  passage  near  half  a 
mile  wide.  Thus  a  vessel  coming  from  sea,  would  steer 
about  south-west  in  entering,  and  would  be  exposed  to  a 
raking  fire  from  the  castle,  the  mole,  and  all  the  adjacent 
batteries,  and  a  cross  fire  from  fort  English.  There  is,  how- 
ever, an  entrance  by  the  passage  between  the  natural  mole 
and  the  rocks,  or  through  the  open  space  already  mention- 
ed. This  is  called  the  western,  or  the  little  entrance ;  it 
may  be  six  or  eight  hundred  feet  in  width;  and  vessels 
using  it  are  obliged  to  pass  close  to  the  batteries  of  the  na- 
tural and  the  artificial  moles.  As  they  round  the  mole- 
head,  they  open  those  of  the  castle  and  of  the  town  also. 

In  addition  to  the  fixed  batteries  of  the  place,  were  the  gun 
boats  and  galleys.  These  boats  were  large  vessel*  of  their 
class,  latine-rigged,  capable  of  going  to  sea  on  emergen- 
cies, as  one  of  their  principal  occupations  had  been  to 
convoy  along  the  coast.  Several  that  were  subsequently 
examined  by  the  American  officers,  had  a  brass  gun  11^ 
feet  long,  with  a  bore  to  receive  a  shot  that  weigihed  29 
pounds,  mounted  in  the  bows,  besides  two  brass  howit- 
zers aft.  The  guns  were  fine  pieces,  and  weighed  6600 
pounds.  When  not  otherwise  engaged,  the  gun-boats  were 
commonly  moored  just  within  the  rocks,  and  without  the 
artificial  mole,  where  they  answered  the  purpose  of  addi- 
tional batteries  to  command  the  entrance.    By  this  dispo- 


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368 


l>  NAVAL  HISTORY. 


W- 


sition  of  his  means  of  defence,  the  Bashaw  could,  at  all  times, 
open  a  fire  of  heavy  guns  afloat,  on  any  vessel  that  ven- 
tured close  in,  in  addition  to  that  of  his  regular  works. 
There  were  two  or  three  light  cruisers  moored  in  the 
upper  part  of  the  harbour,  that  could  be  of  little  use  ex- 
cept as  against  attacks  within  the  rocks,  and  two  galleys. 
On  emergencies,  the  smaller  vessels  could  take  shelter  be- 
hind the  rocks,  where  they  were  nearly  protected  from  flre. 

At  the  time  of  which  we  are  writing,  the  gun  boats  were 
stationed  well  out,  near  the  rocks  and  the  mole,  in  a  man- 
ner to  admit  of  their  giving  and  receiving  a  fire;  and 
on  the  afternoon  of  the  28th  of  May,  the  preparations  hav- 
ing been  previously  made,  a  signal  was  shown  from  the 
New  York,  for  the  John  Adams  to  bear  down  upon  the 
enemy  and  commence  an  attack.  Capt.  Rodgers  obeyed 
the  order  with  promptitude,  taking  a  position  within  reach 
of  grape,  but,  owing  to  the  lightness  of  the  wind,  the  two 
other  ships  were  unable  to  second  her,  as  was  intended. 
In  consequence  of  these  unforeseen  circumstances,  the  at- 
tack proved  a  failure,  in  one  sense,  though  the  boats  soon 
withdrew  behind  the  rocks,  and  night  brought  the  affair  to 
an  end.  It  is  believed  that  neither  party  suflfered  much  on 
this  occasion. 

The  next  day  Com.  Morris  made  an  attempt  to  negotiate 
a  peace,  through  the  agency  of  M.  Nissen,  the  Danish  con- 
sul, a  gentleman  who,  on  all  occasions,  appears  to  have 
been  the  friend  of  the  unfortunate,  and  active  in  doing 
good.  To  this  proposal  the  Bey  listened,  and  one  of  his 
ministers  was  empowered  to  meet  the  American  comman- 
der on  the  subject.  Having  received  proper  pledges  for 
his  safe  return,  Com.  Morris  landed  in  person,  and  each 
party  presented  •  its  outlines  of  a  treaty.  The  result  was 
an  abrupt  ending  of  the  negotiation. 

This  occurred  on  the  8th  of  June,  and,  on  the  10th,  the 
New  York  and  Enterprise  left  the  station,  for  Malta.    At 


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If  AVAL  HISTORY. 


369 


the  latter  place,  Com.  Morris  received  intelligence  concern- 
ing the  movements  of  the  Algerine  and  Tunisian  corsairs, 
that  induced  him  to  despatch  the  Enterprise,  with  orders  to 
Capt.  Rodgers  to  raise  the  blockade  of  Tripoli,  and  to  join 
him,  as  soon  as  circumstances  would  permit,  at  Malta. 

After  the  departure  of  the  flag  ship,  the  John  Adams  28, 
Capt.  Rodgers,  and  the  Adams  28,  Capt.  Campbell,  com- 
posed the  force  left  before  the  enemy's  port.  The  speedy 
return  of  the  Enterprise  12,  which  was  then  commanded 
by  Lieut.  Com.  Hull,  who  had  succeeded  Lieut.  Com.  Ster- 
rett,  added  that  light  vessel  to  the  squadron.  Some  move- 
ments in  the  harbour,  on  the  evening  of  the  21st  of  June,  in- 
duced Capt.  Rodgers,  the  senior  officer  present,  to  suspect 
that  it  was  intended  to  get  a  cruiser  to  sea  that  night,  or  to 
cover  the  return  of  one  to  port.  With  a  view  to  defeat 
either  of  these  plans,  the  Adams  was  sent  to  the  westward, 
the  Enterprise  to  the  eastward,  while  the  John  Adams  re- 
mained in  the  offing. 

On  the  following  morning,  about  7  o'clock,  the  Enter- 
prise was  seen  to  the  southward  and  eastward,  with  a 
signal  flying  of  an  enemy.  At  that  moment,  the  John  Ad- 
ams was  a  few  leagues  out  at  sea,  and  it  was  8  o'clock 
before  the  two  vessels  could  speak  each  other.  Capt. 
Rodgers  now  found  that  a  large  ship  belonging  to  the  Ba- 
shaw, had  run  into  a  deep  narrow  bay,  about  seven  leagues 
to  the  eastward  of  Tripoli,  where  she  had  taken  a  very  fa- 
vourable position  for  defence,  and  anchored  with  springs  on 
her  cable.  At  the  same  time,  it  was  ascertained  that  nine 
gun-boats  were  sweeping  along  the  shore,  to  aid  in  defend- 
ing her,  while,  as  usual,  a  large  body  of  cavalry  was  hover- 
ing about  the  coast,  to  resist  any  attack  by  means  of  boats. 
The  ship  was  known  to  be  the  largest  of  the  Bey's  remain- 
ing corsairs,  mounting  22  guns,  and  she  was  very  full  of 
men. 

Capt.  Rodgers  owed  the  opportunity  that  now  offered  to 


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attack  his  enemy,  to  the  steadiness  and  gallantry  of  Lieut. 
Com.  Hull,  who,  on  making  his  adversary  at  day-light,  had 
cut  him  off  from  the  town,  with  a  spirit  that  did  infinite 
credit  to  that  officer.  Tha  Tripolitan  was  treble  the  force 
of  the  Enterprise,  and  had  he  chosen  to  engage  the  schoon- 
er, Mr.  Hull  would,  probably,  have  been  obliged  to  sacrifice 
his  little  vessel,  in  order  to  prevent  his  enemy  from  getting 
into  port.  Jjt 

The  dispositions  of  Capt.  Rodgers  were  soon  made.  He 
stood  in,  with  the  Enterprise  in  company,  until  the  John 
Adams  was  within  point-blank  shot  of  the  enemy,  when  she 
opened  her  fire.  A  smart  cannonade  was  maintained  on 
both  sides,  for  forty-five  minutes,  when  the  people  of  the 
corsair  abandoned  their  guns,  with  so  much  precipitation, 
that  great  numbers  leaped  overboard,  and  swam  to  the 
shore.  The  John  Adams  was  now  in  quarter-less-five,  by 
the  lead,  and  she  wore  with  her  head  off  shore.  At  the 
same  time,  the  Enterprise  was  ordered  to  occupy  the  at- 
tention of  the  enemy  on  the  beach,  while  boats  could  be  got 
out  to  take  possession  of  the  abandoned  ship.  But  a  boat 
returning  to  the  corsair,  the  John  Adams  tacked  and  re- 
newed her  fire.  In  a  few  minutes  the  colours  of  the  corsair 
were  hauled  down,  and  all  her  guns  were  discharged ;  those 
which  were  pointed  towards  the  Americans,  and  those 
which  were  pointed  towards  the  land.  At  the  next  moment 
she  blew  up. 

The  explosion  was  very  heavy,  and  it  tore  the  hull  of  the 
Tripolitan  entirely  to  pieces.  The  two  after-masts  were 
forced  into  the  air,  to  twice  their  usual  height,  with  all  the 
yards,  rigging,  and  hamper  attached.  The  cause  of  this 
explosion  is  unknown,  though  it  might  have  been  thought 
intentional,  were  it  not  for  the  fact  that  the  people  of  the 
boat  that  had  returned  to  her,  were  blown  up  in  the  ship, 
none  having  left  her  after  their  arrival.  As  the  shot  of 
the  John  Adams  was  seen  to  hull  the  enemy  repeatedly, 


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WAVAL  HISTORY. 


371 


the  corsair  is  also  supposed  to  have  sustained  a  severe  loss 
before  her  people  first  abandoned  her. 

The  John  Adams  and  Enterprsie  attempted  to  cut  off  the 
division  of  gun  boats,  but  found  the  water  shoal  too  far  to 
seaward  of  them,  to  render  the  fire  of  their  guns  eflective. 
Knowing  the  whole  coast  intimately,  the  latter  were  enabled 
to  escape. 

The  ships  bprore  Tripoli,  in  obedience  to  the  orders  <:.{ 
Com.  Morris,  jw  sailed  for  Malta  to  join  that  officer,  wlioa 
the  whole  sq  'ron  proceeded  to  different  ports  in  Italy, 
together.  Fro  rhorn,  the  John  Adams  was  sent  down  to 

the  straits  wii,  .  convoy;  the  Adams  to  Tunis  and  Gibral- 
tar, and  the  Enterprise  back  to  Malta,  in  quest  of  des- 
patches. Soon  after,  the  New  York,  herself,  went  below, 
touching  at  Malaga,  where  Com.  Morris  found  letters  of 
recall.  The  command  was  left  temporarily,  with  Capt. 
Rodgers,  who  hoisted  a  broad  pennant  in  the  New  York, 
while  Com.  Morris  took  charge  of. the  Adams,  to  proceed 
to  America.  Capt.  Cn  mpbell,  late  of  the  Adams,  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  John  Adams. 

Com.  Morris  reached  home  on  the  21st  of  November, 
1803;  and  the  government,  which  professed  great  dissatis- 
faction at  the  manner  in  which  he  had  employed  the  force 
intrusted  to  his  discretion,  demanded  the  usual  explanations. 
These  explanations  not  proving  satisfactory,  a  Court*  of 
Inquiry  was  convened,  by  order  of  the  department,  dated 
March  10th,  1804,  and  the  result  was  an  opinion  that  this 
officer  had  not  discovered  due  diligence  and  activity  in  an- 
noying the  enemy,  on  various  occasions,  between  the  8th 
of  January,  1803,  and  the  period  of  the  expiration  of  his 
command.    In  consequence  of  the  finding  of  the  Court 

•  This  court  consisted  of  Capt.  S.  Barron,  President;  Capt.  Hugh  G. 
Campbell,  and  Lieut.  John  Caisin.  Walter  Jones,  jun.  Esquire,  Judg^e 
Advocate. 


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ITAYAt  HI8T0RT. 


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[• 


of  Inqwry,  the  president  dismissed  Com.  Morris  from  the 
novy.  ^ 

Whatever  may  be  thought  of  the  justice  of  the  opinion  of 
0.  the  court,  there  can  be  little  question  that  the  act  of  the  ex: 
ecutive,  in  this  instance,  was  precipitate  and  wrong.  The 
power  of  removal  from  office  is  given  to  the  president  to 
be  exercised  only  on  important  occasions,  and  for  the  pub- 
lic good;  and  it  has  been  much  questioned,  whether  the 
power  itself  is  salutary,  in  the  cases  of  military  men.  The 
civilian  who  does  net  do  his  duty,  must  be  replaced  imme- 
diately, or  the  office  virtually  becomes  vacant,  but  no  such 
pressing  necessity  exists  in  the  army  and  navy,  as  subordi- 
nates are  always  ready  temporarily  to  discharge  the  duties 
of  their  superiors.  In  the  navy,  this  necessity  is  still  less 
striking  than  in  the  army,  since  officers  of  the  same  rank 
are  never  wanting  to  fill  vacancies. 

But  there  is  a  far  higher  consideration,  why  no  military 
man  should  ever  be  deprived  of  his  commission,  except  in 
very  extraordinary  instances,  unless  by  a  solemn  trial  and  a 
formal  finding  of  a  court.  His  profession  is  the  business  of 
a  life ;  his  conduct  is  at  all  times  subject  to  a  severe  and 
exacting  code,  and  dismission  infers  disgrace.  So  general, 
indeed,  is  the  opinion  that  every  officer  is  entitled  to  be 
tried  by  his  peers,  that  greater  disgrace  is  apt  to  attach 
itself  to  an  arbitrary  dismission,  by  an  exercise  of  executive 
power,  than  to  a  sentence  of  a  court  itself,  since  the  first 
ought  only  to  proceed  from  conduct  so  flagrantly  wrong, 
as  to  supersede  even  the  necessity  of  trial.  There  was 
another  motive  that  ought  to  have  weighed  with  the  go- 
vernment, before  it  resorted  to  the  use  of  so  high  a  power. 
The  gentlemen  who  composed  the  Court  of  Inquiry  on  Com. 
Morris,  were  his  juniors  in  rank,  %nd  one  was  his  inferior. 
Although  the  characters  of  these  officers  were  above  sus- 
picion, as  to  motives,  the  accused,  on  general  principles, 
had  a  perfect  right  to  the  benefit  of  the  exception,  and  was 


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378 


entitled  to  demand  all  the  forms  of,  (he  service,  ^fore  he 
was  finally  condemned. 

It  has,  more  or  less,  been  a  leading  defect  of  the  civil 
administration  of  the  military  affairs  of  the  American  go* 
vernment,  that  too  little  of  professional  feeling  has  pre- 
sided  in  its  councils,  the  men  who  are  elevated  to  political 
power,  in  popular  governments,  seldom  entering  fully 
into  the  tone  and  motives  of  those  who  are  alive  to  the 
sensibilities  of  military  pride.  One  of  the  consequences 
of  this  influence  of  those  who  have  merely  the  habits  of 
civilians,  on  the  fortunes  of  men  so  differently  educated, 
is  to  be  traced  in  the  manner  in  which  the  executive  au- 
thority just  alluded  to  has  been  too  often  wielded ;  presenting 
on  one  side  ex  parte  decisions  that  have  been  more  charac- 
terized by  precipitation  and  petulance,  than  by  dignity, 
justice,  or  discretion;  and  on  the  other,  by  a  feebleness  that 
has  too  often  shrunk  from  sustaining  true  discipline,  by  re- 
fusing to  confirm  the  decisions  of  courts  that  have  deliber- 
ately heard  and  dispassionately  sentenced. 

The  death  of  Com.  Barry,*  the  resignations  of  Com. 

*  John  Barry  was  a  native  of  the  county  of  Wexfonl,  Ireland,  where 
he  was  bom  in  1745.  He  came  to  America  a  youth,  having  adopted  the 
life  of  a  seaman  as  a  profession.  Circumstances  early  brought  him  into 
notice,  and  he  was  one  of  the  first  officers  appointed  to  a  command  in  the 
navy  of  the  united  colonies.  He  is  also  supposed  to  have  been  the  first 
regular  officer  who  g^t  to  sea  on  a  cruise,  though  this  honour  lies  between 
him  and  Com.  Hopkins.  In  command  of  the  Lexington  14,  he  took  the 
Edward  tender,  after  a  smart  action,  in  1776.  In  1777,  he  performed  a 
handsome  exploit  in  the  Delaware,  at  the  head  of  four  boats,  carrying  an 
enemy's  man-of-war  schooner  without  the  loss  of  a  man.  For  a  short  time, 
he  also  served  with  the  army,  during  the  eventful  campugn  in  New  Jer- 
sey. In  1778,  he  made  a  most  gallant  resistance  against  a  superior  force, 
in  the  Raleigh  32,  losing  hii^ship,  but  saving  most  of  his  crew.  In  1781, 
in  the  Alliance  32,  he  took  the  Atalanta  and  Trepassy,  after  a  bloody 
combat,  in  which  he  was  severely  wounded.  In  1782,  he  fought  a  close 
battle  with  an  English  ship  in  the  West  Indies,  being  driven  oif  by  a 
superior  force  that  was  in  sight.  At  the  establishment  of  the  new  marine, 
Vol.  I.— 33    . 


m 


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'^  '*'»■  '^^ 


^74 


NAVAL  HISTORY. 


Dale,*  and  Com.  Truxtun,  with  t^e  dismissals  of  Codi. 


under  the  present  government  in  1794,  Capt  Barry  was  named  the  senior 
«:     officer,  in  which  station  he  died.  ' 

Com.  Bany,  as  an  officer  and  a  man,  ranked  very  high.  His  affection 
to  his  adopted  country  was  never  doubted,  and  was  put  to  the  proof,  as 
the  British  government  is  said  to  have  bid  high  to  detach  him  from  its 
service,  during  the  Revolution.  He  died  childless  and  greatly  respected, 
Sept.  18tb,  1803,  in  the  city  of  PhiUulelphia,  where  he  had  made  his  home, 
/  •  • .      from  the  time*of  his  arrival  in  the  country,  and  where  he  had  married. 

*  Richard  Dale  was  bom  in  the  year  1757,  n  a  short  cHstance  from  Nor< 
folk  in  the  colony  of  Virginia.  He  went  to  sea  young,  and  .7as  mate  of 
a  vessel  in  1775.  After  serving  a  short  time  irreg^ularly,  Mr.  Dale  joined 
the  United  States  brig  Lexington  in  July  1776,  as  a  midslupman.  IVhen 
the  Lexington  was  taken  by  the  Pearl,  Mr.  Dale  was  left  in  the  brig,  and  , 
he  was  active  in  her  recapture.  The  succeeding  year  ho  sailed,  as  a  mas« 
.  ter's  mate,  in  the  Lexington;  was  in  her,  in  her  cruise  round  Ireland,  and 
,  was  captured  in  her  by  the  Alert,  after  a  long  action.  BIr.  Dale  escaped 
from  Mill  prison  in  February  1778,  was  retaken  in  London,  and  sent  baok> 
to  confinement.  For  an  entire  year  he  remained  a  captive,  when  he  escaped 
a  second  time,  and  succeeded  in  reaching  France.  Here  he  joined  the 
celebrated  squadron  fitting  under  Paul  Jones,  an  officer  who  soon  dia> 
covered  his  merit,  and  made  him  first  lieutenant  of  hio  own  ship,  the  Bon 
Homme  Richard.  The  conduct  of  Mr.  Dale  in  that  capacity,  is  recorded 
in  the  text.  After  the  cruise  in  the  squadron  he  went  through  the  British 
channel  with  his  commander  in  the  Alliance  32,  and  subsequently  came  to 
America  with  him  in  the  Ariel  20,  in  1780.  Mr.  Dale  was  not  yet  twenty 
three  years  old,  and  he  appears  now  to  have  first  obtained  the  commission 
\  of  a  lieutenant  in  the  navy  from  the  government  at  home,  that  under  which 
he  had  previously  acted  having  been  issued  in  Europe.  Mr.  Dale  was 
appointed  first  lieutenant  of  the  Trumbull  28,  in  which  slup  he  served  in 
her  action  with  the  Iris  and  Monk,  when  the  Trumbull  was  taken.  He 
was  made  a  prisoner  a  second  time,  of  course,  but  he  was  shortly  after  ex- 
changfed. 

Mr.  Dale  does  not  appear  *n  have  served  any  more,  in  public  vessels, 
duringthewar  of  the  Revoi  but  in  1794,  he  was  commissioned  as  the 

fourth  captain,  in  the  presv.  larine.  Capt  Dale  commanded  the  Gan- 
ges 20,  the  first  vessel  that  went  to  sea  under  the  new  organization.  He 
continued  but  a  short  time  m  this  sV ;;  ^,  getting  a  furlough  in  1799,  to  make 
an  East  India  voyage.  In  1801,  he  made  the  cruise  in  the  Mediterranean 
which  has  been  related  in  the  body  of  this  work,  as  commander  of  the 
squadron,  and  the  following  year  he  resigned. 


' 


^*. 


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KAVAL  HISTORV. 


875* 


Slorris,*  and  Capt.  M'Niell,  reduced  the  Hst  of  t^ptains 
tO'Oine,  the  number  named  in  the  reduction  law,  for  that 
act  does  not  appear  to  have  been  rigidly  regarded  from  the 
moment  of  its  passage.    After  the  death  of  Com.  Barry, 

Few  men  passed  youths  more  chequered  with  stirring  incidents  than 
Com.  Dale,  and  few  men  spent  the  evening  of  their  days  more  tranquilly. 
On  quitting  the  navy,  he  remained  in  Philadelphia,  in  the  enjoyment  of  a 
spotless  name,  a  competency,  and  a  tranquil  mind,  up  to  the  hour  of  bis 
death,  which  event  occurred  February  24th,  1826,  in  thd  69th  year  of 
his  age.  "* 

Com.  Dale  had  the  reputation  of  being  both  a  (food  officer  and  a  (pod 
seaman.  He  was  cool,  brave,  modest,  and  just.  Notwithstanding  his  short 
service  in  the  present  marine,  he  has  left  belund  him  a  character  that  all 
respected,  wlule  none  envy.  i  .    ij     , 

*  Richard  Valentine  Morris  belonged  to  one  of  the  historical  families  of 
the  country,  which  has  been  seated  a  century  and  a  half  at  Morrissania,  in 
West  Chester  county,  New  York.  He  was  the  youngest  son  of  Lewis 
Morris,  of  Morrissania,  who  was  one  of  the  signers  of  the  Declaration  of 
Independence,  and  he  early  adopted  the  sea  as  a  profession.  Without 
haring  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  much  service,  the  g^at  influence 
and  fair  pretenuons  of  his  family,  caused  him  to  be  appointed  to  the  sta- 
tion of  the  ninth  captun  in  the  new  navy,  his  commission  having  been 
dated  June  7th,  1798.  Capt.  Morris  was  probably  the  youngest  man,  among 
those  originally  named  to  the  rank  he  held,  but  he  acquitted  himself  with 
credit,  in  the  command  of  the  Adams  28,  during  the  war  with  France. 
At  the  reduction  of  the  navy,  in  1801,  Capt.  Morris  was  retuned  as  the 
fifth  in  rank,  and  his  selection  to  command  the  Mediterranean  squadron 
was  due  to  his  place  on  the  list;  the  age  and  state  of  health  of  the  few 
officers  above  him,  rendering  them  indisposed  to  actual  service  of  the  na- 
ture  on  which  he  was  sent. 

The  fault  of  Com.  Morris  in  managing  the  force  entrusted  to  him,  was 
merely  one  of  judgment,  for  neither  his  zeal  nor  his  courage  was  ever  ques- 
tioned. Had  he  been  regularly  tried  by  a  court  martial,  a  reprimand,  in  all 
probability,  would  have  been  the  extei\t  of  the  punishment;  and  it  is  due 
to  his  character,  to  add,  that  his  dismissal  from  the  navy  has  usually  been 
deemed  a  high-handed  political  measure,  rather  than  a  military  condem- 
nation. He  lived  respected,  and  died  in  his  original  position  in  life,  while 
attending  the  legislature  at  Albany,  in  1814.  He  was  considered  a  good 
oflicer,  in  general,  and  was  a  seaman  of  very  fair  pretensions. 


'^f 


A 


876 


NAVAL  HISTORr. 


'*it. 


.*, 


Com.  S.  Nicholson,  who  first  appears  in  our  histo/y  as  the 
commander  of  the  Dolphin  10,  during  the  cruise  of  Capt. 
Wickes  in  the  Irish  and  English  channels,  became  the  senior 
officer  of  the  service,  making  the  second  metnber  of  the 
same  family  who  had  filled  that  honourable  station.  '^ 


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APPENDIX 


■■■*. 


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An. 


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NOTB  A. 


AGKEEMEOT' 


Between  Capt.  John  Paul  Jone$  and  the  Officers  of  the  Squadron. 

[Truislation.] 

'  Agreement  between  Messrs.  John  Paul  Jones,  Captain  of  the  Bon 
Homme  Richard ;  Pierre  Landais,  Captain  of  the  Alliance;  Dennis 
Nicolas  Cottineau,  Captain  of  the  Pallas;  Joseph  Varage,  Captain 
of  the  Stag  (le  Cerf ) ;  and  Philip  Nicolas  Ricot,  Captain  of  the 
Vengeance ;  composing  a  squadron,  that  shall  be  commanded  by 
the  oldest  officer  of  the  highest  grade,  and  so  on  in  succession,  in 
case  of  death  or  retreat.  None  of  the  said  commanders,  whilst  they 
are  not  separated  from  the  said  squadron,  by  order  of  the  minister, 
shall  act  but  by  virtue  of  the  brevet  which  they  shall  have  obtained 
from  the  United  States  of  America ;  and  it  is  agreed  that  the  flag  of 
the  United  States  shall  be  displayed. 

The  division  of  prizes  to  the  superior  officers  and  crews  of  said 
squadron,  shall  be  made  agreeably  to  the  American  laws ;  but  it  is 
agreed,  that  the  proportion  of  the  whole,  coming  to  each  vessel  of 
the  squadron,  shall  be  regulated  by  the  minister  of  the  marine  de< 

■v.-/  -  :■';  ,> .  '  32*         .■  -      .    ••> '  '     T     '  V 


-  ■*-*. 


its 


APPBITDIX. 


rt 


partment  of  France,  and  the  minister  plenipotentiary  of  the  United 
States  of  America. 

A  copy  of  the  American  laws  shall  be  annexed  to  the  present 
agreement,  after  having  been  certified  by  the  commander  of  the 
Bon  Homme  Richard ;  but  as  the  said  laws  cannot  foresee  nor  de- 
termine as  to  what  may  concern  the  vessels  and  subjects  of  other 
nations,  it  is  expressly  agreed,  that  whatever  may  be  contrary  to 
them  shall  be  regulated  by  the  minister  of  the  French  marine,  and 
the  minister  of  the  United  States  of  America. 

It  is  likewise  agreed,  that  the  orders  given  by  the  minister  of  the 
French  marine,  and  the  minister  plenipotentiary  of  the  United  States, 
shall  be  executed. 

Considering  the  necessity  there  is  for  preserving  the  interests  of 

each  individual,  the  prizes  that  shall  be  taken  shall  be  remitted  to 

the  orders  of  Monsieur  le  Ray  de  Chaumont,  Honorary  Intendant  of 

the  Royal  Hotel  of  Invalids,  who  has  furnished  the  expenses  of  the 

^armament  of  said  squadron.  \\ 

It  is  agreed,  that  M.  le  Ray  de  Chaumbnt  be  requested  not  to  give 
up  the  part  of  the  prizes  coming  to  all  the  crews,  and  to  each  indi> 
vidual  of  the  said  squadron,  but  to  their  order,  and  to  be  responsible 
for  the  same  in  his  own  proper  name. 

Whereas  the  said  squadron  has  been  formed  for  the  purpose  of 
injuring  the  common  enemies  of  France  and  America,  it  has  been 
agreed  that  such  armed  vessels,  whether  French  or  American,  may 
be  associated  therewith,  as  by  common  consent  shall  be  found  suit* 
able  for  the  purpose,  and  that  they  shall  have  such  proportion  of  the 
prizes  which  shall  be  taken,  as  the  laws  of  their  respective  countries 
allow. 

In  case  of  the  death  of  any  one  of  the  before  mentioned  comman- 
ders of  vessels,  he  shall  be  replaced  agreeably  to  the  order  of  the 
tariff,  with  liberty,  however,  to  choose  whether  he  will  remain  in 
his  own  ship,  or  give  up  to  the  next  in  order  the  command  of  the 
vacant  ship. 

It  has  moreovet  been  agreed,  that  the  commander  of  the  Stag  (le 
Cerf)  shall  be  excepted  from  the  last  article  of  this  present  agree- 
ment, because,  in  case  of  a  disaster  to  M.  de  Varage,  he  shall  be 


if       ■       '^(oiiU 


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in 


ife: 


.% 


\ . 


APPENDIX. 


870 


repFaced  by  his  second  in  command,  and  so  on  by  the  other  officers 
of  his  cutter,  the  Stag  (le  Cerf.) 

J.  P.  Jones, 
P.  Landais, 
De  Cottineau, 
Vabaob, 

P.  RiCOT, 

Le  Rat  de  Chaumont. 

(Sparke's  Diplomatic  Correspondence,  page  205,  vol.  iii.) 


(P^\ 


■<vt- 


:  Note  B. 

:  .  In  consequence  of  the  infancy  of  the  arts  in  America,  both  the 
soldiers  and  seamen  have  had  to  contend  with  their  enemies,  in  the 
wars  that  are  passed,  under  the  disadvantages  of  possessing  inferit^ 
arms,  powder,  and  even  shot.  How  tur  these  deficiencies  in  the 
guns  and  shot  may  have  been  felt  in  the  Revolution,  it  is  not  easy 
to  say,  as  a  large  portion  of  the  military  supplies  were  obtained 
either  from  the  enemy  himself,  or  from  Europe.  After  the  Revolu- 
tion, however,  down  to  the  close  of  the  last  war  with  England,  the 
navy  in  particular  laboured  under  great  disadvantages  on  account  of 
defective  armaments  and  stores.  In  many  of  the  actions,  more  men 
were  injured  by  the  bursting  of  guns,  than  by  the  fire  of  the  enemy, 
and  the  shot,  from  imperfect  casting,  fre-'  '..r.tly  broke  when  they 
struck.  Another  consequence,  of  this  defecti' ::  casting  was  a  dimi- 
nution in  weight,  and  consequently,  in  momentum.  The  latter  fact 
having  been  allut  :>d  to,  in  the  course  of  the  war,  the  writer,  with  a 
view  to  this  work,  personally  weighed  a  quantity  of  shot,  both  Eng- 
lish and  American,  and  made  a  note  of  the  tesnlts.  It  was  found 
that  the  old  shot,  or  those  with  which  the  ships  were  supplied  at  the 
commencement  of  the  war  of  1812,  were  comparatively  lighter  than 
those  which  had  been  cast  at  a  later  day ;  but  in  no  instance  was  an 
American  shot  even  then  found  of  full  weight.  On  the  other  hand,  the 
English  shot  were  uniformly  of  accurate  weight.  Some  of  the  Ameri- 


■  ;»;   "    ™-*' 


8^ 


APPBITDIX. 


on  83  pound  thot,  weighed  but  80  pounds;  and  a  gentleman  present 
on  the  occasion,  assured  the  writer  that,  a  few  years  earlier,  he  had  . 
met  with  many  which  did  QPiinuch  exceed  20  pounds.  The  heaviest 
weighed  was  II  pounds  8  ounces.  An  average  of  four,  all  of 
which  were  of  the  later  eastiaigi,  gave  80  pounds  11  ounces.  The 
average  of  the  18  pound  shot  was  about  17  pounds ;  but,  it  was  un< 
derstood,  wkthis  examination  occurred  several  years  after  the  peace, 
that  the  shot,  as  well  as  the  guns,  were  then  materially  better  thalh 
they  had  been  previous  to  and  during  the  war. 

The  reader  will  bear  in  mind  that  twelve  French  pounds  make 
nearly  thirteen  English.  Thus,  while  the  gun»deck  batteries  of  Tin* 
aurgente  were  nominally  twelves,  the  shot  weighed  about  18  pounds. 
On  the  other  hand,  the  gun^deck  batteries  of  the  Constellation  were  ., 
nominally  twenty<fours,  but  the  shot  probably  weighed  about  22 
pounds. 

In  the  action  with  la  Vengeance,  the  two  ships  had  the  same  nO' 
minal  weight  of  metal  on  their  gun<decks,  viz.  eighteen«pounder9>, 
But  the  eighteen.pound  shot  of  the  Vengeance  must  have  weighed 
nearly  191  English  pounds,  while  those  of  the  Constellation  did  not 
probably  weigh  17  pounds,  if  indeed  they  weighed  more  than  16 
pounds. 

It  has  bem  asserted  that  the  English  shot  were  over-weight,  but 
the  writer  weighed  a  good  many  himself,  and  he  found  them  oil  sur* 
prisingly  accurate. 


NotbC. 

tAtt  of  the  Officer*  cf  the  Navy,  hefore  the  Peace  Eetahlishment 
Law  (f  1901,  was  passed. 

CAPTAINS.  y 

John  Barry,  Thomas  Truxtun, 

Samuel  Nicholson,  James  Sever,   . 

Silas  Talbot,  Stephen  Decatur, 

Richard  Dale,  Christopher  R.  Perry, 


i^^j^. 


APrXITDIX. 


nt 

id. 

tt 

of 

le 

^• 

e, 

H 

:e 

i. 
« 
2 


/* 


Richard  V.  Morris, 
Alexander  Murray, 
Daniel  M'Niell, 
Thomas  Tingey, 
Patrick  Fletcher, 
George  Cross, 
Samuel  Barron, 
Moses  Brown, 
Moses  Tryon, 
Richard  Derby, 


George  Little, 
John  Rodgers, 
Edward  Preble, 
John  Mullowil|r, 
ilames  Barron, 
Thomas  Baker, 
Henry  Geddes,  *• 
Thomas  Robinson, 
Williiim  Bainbridge» 
Hugh  G.  Campbell. 


MASTERS  COMMANDANT. 

Cyrus  Talbot,  Charles  C.  Russell, 

David  Jewett,  Benjamin  Hillar, 

William  Cowper,         ^^  John  A.  Spotswood. 
Richard  Law,  Jr. 


LIEVTENA 

David  Ross, 
Charles  Stewart, 
Richard  C.  Beale, 
Isaac  Hull,  ' 

Archibald  M'Elroy, 
Andrew  Sterrett, 
Thomas  Wilkey, 
David  Phipps, 
Josias  M.  Speake, 
Joseph  Strout, 
Francis  H.  Ellison, 
Ambrose  Shirly, 
John  Shaw, 
M.  Simmons  Bnnbury, 
John  M'Rea, 
Isaac  Chauncey, 
Robert  W.  Hamilton, 
John  Cruft, 
Samuel  Chase, 


,-r..;. 


^'■ 


NTS.  .  '      , 

Wilson  Jacobs, 

John  Ballard, 

John  Warner, 

Zachariah  Rhodes,      *      , 

James  Burns, 

Samuel  Hey  ward, 

John  Archer, 

Killian  H.  Van  Rensselaer, 

John  Davidson, 

Henry  Seton, 

Richard  Marner, 

Thomas  Laing, 

Isaac  B.  Hichbom, 

Robert  Has  well, 

Samuel  Phillips, 

William  Smith,     ^  > 

John  Rush, 

Robert  Palmer, 

William  Flag, 


-M-^ 


.^^ 


w 


m 


John  Smith,  \ 
Jeiemiah  Fenner, 
Samuel  PArker, 
John  Mi^, 
Cornelius  ODriKoll, 
Edward  Meade, 
Fre^lpi  Banning, 
Richard  Somers, 
Stephen  Decatur,  Jn 
Joaeph  Saundera^  ■' 
Mark  Fernald, 
William  Peterkin, 
John  H,  Jones, 
John  Carson, 
Joseph  Ingraham, 
George  Cox, 
Gerald  Byrne, 
Jonathan  Titcomb,  Jr. 
Edward  Boss, 
James  P.  Watson, 
Robert  Wells, 
Samuel  Brookes, 
John  H.  Dent, 
Thomas  Robinson,  Jr. 
Miles  King, 
John  Latimer, 
John  Cowper, 
L.  S.  Daubeney, 
James  Campbell, 
John  T.K.  Cox, 
Abraham  Ludlow, 
William  C.  Jenks, 
David  Porter, 
Benjamin  F.  Knapp, 
Robt.  Harrison, 
Wm.  Penrose, 


^' 


APPIlTDfX. 

Charles  Jewett, 
John  Cassin, 
Saml.  M*Cutchen,    \ 
Jos.  E.  Collins, 

f  James  Murdock, 

Richd.  Clark, 

•  41    Aomas  B.  Davis, 
Samuel  EVans, 
John  Love, 
George  G.  Lee, 
Charles  Gordon, 
John  W.  Whidbie, 
Richd.  H.  L.  Lawson, 
Thos.  N.  Gautier, 
Godrrey  Wood, 
Wm.  Wells, 
Stephen  Clough, 
Edwd.  Wyer, 
George  W.  Tew. 
Jos.  Beale, 
Henry  Vandyke, 
James  Smith, 
John  Galven, 
John  M.  Claggett, 
Phil.  C.  Wederstrandt, 
Joshua  Blake, 
Seymour  Potter, 
Edwd.  Brock, 
Redmond  M'Clannan, 
Joseph  Tarbell, 
John  Foot, 
Wm.  Crispin, 
James  R.  Caldwell, 
Wm.  Davis, 
•  Lewis  C.  Bailey, 
Jacob  Jones. 


■n 


i 


«j»- 


* 


■fX^ 


j^wi.' 


k 


•     %- 

■       rA 

^                             APPENDIX.                                              982 

■  AILIIfO 

MASTIBi. 

*                Nathanial  Harraden, 

June*  Trant, 
itshua  Johnaopi 

Lemuel  Little, 

Benj.  Sayer, 

Nathl.  Stanwood, 

Loudon  Bayley, 

William  Glovtr, 

William  Knight,        > 

,  Edward  Ballard,^ 
Levi  Barden, 

^  George  A.  Hallowell, 

Shubael  Downes, 

John  King, 

Jaraea  F.  Ooelete, 

Rich.  €.  Brandt, 

Thos.  Rodgen, 

Samuel  Plummer, 
William  Wesoott, 

Josiah  Hazard, 

Moses  Durkham, 

Neils  C.  Rang. 

# 

« 

XIDSHIPMBir. 

James  Macdonough, 

John  W.  Duncan, 

Joseph  Bush, 

Wm.  M.  Livingstcn, 

William  Morrell, 

Sybrand  Van  Schaick, 

'  Thomas  Burrows, 

George  W.  Reed, 

Robert  C.  Pugh, 

George  Boyd, 

George  Calder, 

John  Gault, 

Arthur  Sinclair, 

Samuel  Douglass, 

Benj.  Carpender,           '  > 

Daniel  M'Niell,  Jr. 

Jacob  R.Valk, 

James  Roache, 

Richard  Thomas, 

Robert  Warren, 

Abner  Woodruff,         ■". 

Michael  Carroll, 

Theodore  Hunt, 

Humphry  Magratb, 

William  Lewis, 

William  Fleming, 

James  Lawrence, 

Christ.  Gadsden,  Jr. 

Arnold  Whipple, 

Thomas  Ellis, 

Benjamin  Smith, 

John  Gallaway, 

Charles  V.  S.  Carpenter, 

James  T.  Leonard, 

Joshua  Herbert,          ^ 

Th.  R.  Hardenburgh, 

Joseph  Murdock, 

William  Rhodes, 

James  Decatur, 

Samuel  Ling, 

Charles  Ludlow, 

John  T.  Ellsworth, 

'*           Thomas  Truxtun,  jr. 

Henry  Morrison, 

Samuel  Elbert, 

Joseph  Maxwell, 

.   *'■...  "*.■■-.■■.           •■ .                          ;  ' 

,"'     .     ■                     -               '      J^ 

*     •:    '  -       ■■''■,' 

,■.   .•-  *'^0-^',:         '      ■,■'■■■  .      ■', 

*#v  * 


>^ 


«1 


.■^-imtV^lliMIMK'lllillllM^.^ 


:  '■■' 


/ 


■%^h 


'%. 


4 

364 


APPENDIX. 


Peter  Bonnetheau, 
Maurice  Simons, 
Thomas  Deveau, 
Aaron  F.  Cook, 
Hugh  K.  Toler,        ' 
Daniel  Polk, 
Edward  Ford, 
Kennith  M'Kcnzie, 
Charles  Morris,  <• 
John  Dubose, 
Benjamin  Yancy,     " 
William  M.  Miller, 
Walter  Winter, 
Daniel  C.  Heath,    ' 
George  W.  Coffin, 
John  Trippe, 
Edward  N.  Cox, 
Oliver  H.  Perry, 
Thomas  Gordon, 
Robert  Henley, 
Joseph  Bainbridge, 
Isaac  Cox, 
William  Hartigan, 
Archibald  Frazer, 
John  M.  P.  Gardner, 
Owen  Smith, 
George  Williamson, 
I.  T.  Clark, 
Abel  Lincoln, 
Joseph  Cordis, 
Benjamin  Conant, 
Joseph  Richardson, 
James  Dick,    ,', 
William  M.  Crane, 
Joseph  Wil listen, 
John  S.  Webb, 
Elias  Willis, 


% 


■«*-. 


,'t 


Simon  Hart,  '  . 

Joseph  Willitson, 
Habijah  Savage, 
James  E.  West, 
Richard  B.  Randolph 
Joseph  Prince, 
Henry  Somes, 
David  Service,       ,'  ^ 
George  Pierce, 
Timothy  Pickering, 
Lewis  W.  Henop, 
Joseph  Gantt,  . 

John  E.  Fisher,   ' 
William  Giddeons, 
Robert  Stewart, 
William  Ingraham, 
William  Neilson, 
Joseph  B.  Hennessey, 
James  P.  Hunt, 
Samuel  G.  Blodgett,  \, 
Robert  L.  Tilghman, 
Wm.  Whitesides, 
Charles  Miles, 
James  Gibbon, 
Alex.  Harrison, 
Samuel  BuUen,    . 
John  G.  Norwood, 
Fred.  N.  Hudson, 
John  Kiddall, 
Archibald  B.  Lord, 
Thomas  Jones, 
^noch  Brown, 
William  M'Hatton, 
Franklin  Reid, 
Daniel  Murray, 
John  Garlick, 
George  W.  Spottswood, 


\1 


t 


mh 


\\ 


*' 


^'  .^-" 


"*>: 


M 


K, 


.%■ 


.  -  w-  ^  .         .      •'•  ■ 

■■'■■:;■■■     ,  ^-.i 

^    i                         '              APPBVDIX.              ,                              385 

Richard  Gantt,         /> 

George  Jewett, 

V 

L.  Warfield,         ,\  *  :      ^ 

John  N.  Chester, 

.■'''       John  F.  Fox,        ^jw^ 

Charles  Bulkley, 

m 

William  Dunn,       ;  * ,     " 

Edward  O'Brien, 

S.  Leonard,    ,       \v  : " 

Samuel  Angus, 

John  Longley, 

Caleb  Allen, 

Benjamin  Shattuok, 

.    -f  Robert  Flinn,            v 

f?    James  Mulne, 

J.  B.Wilkinson,        >^ 

«,-■ : 

Jona.  P.  Hitchcock, 

William  F.  Gist,         / 

?*       ,. 

Thomas  N.  Willis,      , 

George  Dabney, 

' 

William  B.  Suggs, 

•  Keyran  Walsh, 

James  Cox,                 jf 

^  Philip  Henop,           li^i 

Thomas  Homan, 

Francis  Patton,        <^w 

^'         Henry  Wadsworth, 

James  Penrose,     .        ) 

John  Livingston, 

Daniel  Sim, 

Geo.  A.  Marcellin, 

Samuel  Conant,     .  ,; 

/ 

Benj.  B.  Provoost, 

James  H.  Adams, 

<' 

Joseph  Dorr, 

Samuel  Stubbs,        %,  .      - 

■  »■ 

,  George  Tryon,        , 

William  Scellend, 

Owen  Tudor, 

John  Shattuck, 

Matthew  Talcott,       ./ 

John  Rowe,                 '       , 

- 

Thomas  Robinson, 

George  W.  Ridgely, 

Thomas  Randall,  . 

John  Polk,     i  >,       r< 

Samuel  Clements, 

John  Wood, 

David  Deacon, 

Joseph  Field, 

Ralph  Izard, 

William  Butler, : 

John  D,  Henley, 

Charles  Read,      - 

George  H.  Geddes, 

Louis  M'T<ane, 

Charles  G.  Ridgely,    > 

William  Smith, 

Joseph  B.  Wharton, 

Charles  Wilson, 

, 

James  Hite, 

Clem.  Lindsey, 

Reuben  Broiighton, 

John  Legg, 

William  Campbell,  Jr. 

John  Goodwin,  Jr.    ^  . 

Charles  G.  Cannon, 

Jonathan  Bulkley,       / 

James  S.  Higinbotham, 

William  Kean, 

' 

William  Blake, 

William  Burrows, 

Thomas  M.  Rogers 

Westwood  T.  Mason, 

Vol.  L— 33 

• 

' 

in 


's*'"* 


»% , 


■■^, 


,^' . 


"H^fmim 


■45.. 


».«   2-     '-  • 


386 


^  -I. 


''«: 


*. 


*  tl- 


;t   APPBITDIX.    . 


>>A 


^- 


P 


.► 


Edward  Bennett, 
P.  L.  Ogilvio,       i 
Charles  W.  Jonest  ^  ^ 
Lewis  Warrington, 
Octavius  A.  Page, 
Allen  J.  Green, 
James  Rogers, 
Darius  Dunn, 
William  Gregory, 
John  Tapley,       ^ 
Phineas  Stone,    v'     ,, 
Daniel  Brown,  > 
George  Parker, 
George  Merrill, 
Robert  Dorsey, 
Johnston  Blakcley, 
Shinkin  Moore, 
Henry  Page, 
Winlock  Clarke, 
Charles  Moore, 
Thomas  Macdonough, 
John  Witherspoon, 
Charles  Chilton, 
John  D.  Stoat, 
Clem.  Biddle,  Jr. 
James  Biddle, 
Edward  Biddle, 
William  Griffith, 
Thomas  T.  Beall, 
William  T.  Nicholls, 
Abijah  J.  Henton, 
Foster  Perkins, 
George  W.  Steinhauer, 
William  Duncanson, 
James  Eakin, 
Thomas  Hughes, 
Stephen  Cassin,  ' 


1     y. 


* 


William  Henderson, 
Charles  Coombes, 
Archibald  M'Call, 
John  Stevens, 
Robert  C.  Rosseter, 
Ephraim  Blaines, 
John  Hartley, 
Alfred  Hazard,      ^  • 
John  Rawling,        v 
Robert  M«Connell,       " 
Benjamin  Page, 
Wm.  W.  Barker, 
Thomas  F.  Pennington, 
Peter  Ferrall, 
William  H.  Smith, 
Isaac  Whitlock, 
Joseph  Tuffs, 
Jesse  V.  Lewis, 
Peter  E.  Bentley, 
Seymour  Hooe, 
George  Gray,  ' 

Richardson  Taylor, 
Mordecai  Gist, 
Henry  Bettner, 
Thomas  O.  Anderson, 
Thomas  Hunt, 
Matthew  French,  ,.$^ 
Richard  Carson,    #  '" 
Samuel  Child, 
James  Harmum,  Jr. 
William  Whistler, 
Edward  Trenchard, 
Wm.  M'Intosh,  . 
John  Smith, 
George  Mitchell, 
Sloss  H.  Grinnel, 
Archibald  K.  Kearney, 


\ 


fj, 


■'■■': 


^. 


i-\. 


-::^f 


T-: 


.^..     .>SJi 


•A 


# 


-,-* 


:.*  ..■ 


I    - 
,'    I 


'Wk 


^ 


s?- 


\ 

Henry  Geddes,  Jr. 
Jonathan  Thoro,  '  :  ■• 
Robert  Miller, 
William  Thornton, 
John  Rowand, 
David  Bycrs, 
William  H.  Allen, 
Joseph  Stickney, 
John  Nicholson, 
John  Palmer, 
Robert  N.  Page, 
Philip  C.  Blake, 
George  Levely, 
A.  D.  Wain  Wright, 
Samuel  Proctor, 
Charles  Neyle, 
John  Cochran, 
Edward  Giles, 
M.  T.  Woolsey, 
Daniel  S.  Dexter, 
Wilson  Elliott, 
Calvin  Stevens, 
John  Pemberton, 
Alexander  Laws, 
Edward  Attwood, 
Robert  T.  Spence, 
Philip  Moses, 
George  D.  Evans, 
Leroy  Opie, 
James  Ferguson, 
Marshall  Glenn, 
John  Harris, 
Charles  Morris,  Jr. 
John  Goodwin, 
James  Biggs, 
John  Patton, 
Thomas  Swai-twout, 


*i> 


APPEITDIX. 


387 


'4^ 


John  Orde  Creighton, 
Jacob  Vickery, 
Richard  Harrison, 
James  Renshaw, 
Walter  Lawrence, 
Samuel  Aldrick, 
James  Bry den,  " 

Andrew  H.  Yoorhees, 
Henry  P.  Casey,  ^^ 
John  Wood,    .  > 

Sidney  Smith, 
Ezra  Mantz,  ' 
James  Nicholson,     << 
Charles  Robinson, 
Isaac  B.  Forman, 
Wm.  Miller,  ,  ^ 

Wm.  H.  Thorn, 
Walter  Boyd, 
John  M.  Haswell, 
John  D.  Henley, 
Edward  Randolph, 
Daniel  T.  Patterson, 
Charles  Angier, 
James  Mackay,        , 
James  Saunders, 
Sewall  Handv, 
Robert  Innes, 
Benjamin  Fendall, 
Benjamin  Turner, 
John  Davis, 
Benjamin  F.  Stoddert, 
Bernar.i  Henry, 
Montg.  Newman, 
Wallace  Wormly, 
Lawrence  Keen, 
William  Cutbush, 
John  Brown, 


*».■;.  J 


:1jW'- 


€ 


-  r 


f  .. 


i>,!^ 


& 


ifmmimmSli 


'\ 


■f 


.".■•Jr 


v^; 


^.^ 


% 


fi   ^ 


4M 


Samuel  Allen,  " 

Jon.  C.  Shaw, 
Lloyd  NicoU,    ,k    -^ 
Geo.  S.  Hackley, 
Richard  B.  Baker, 
Jno.  Provaiat, 


Wm.  Smith, 
^^    Jos.  Israel,      &  ' 
C&,     George  Mann, 
Wm.  M.  Smith, 
Samuel  Cooper, 
Charles  Clarke. 


'*'■■  ■# 


%.r- 


■V 


**>' 


;l      ■    *.  *.W 


List  of  Officers  retained  on  the  Peace  EttoMiehment. 


%:■ 


We  have  set  opposite  to  every  name,  the  ultimate  station  each 
individual  attiined  as  far  as  cifi  be  ascertained,  and  as  a  means  of 
showing  the  average  fortunes,  of  those  who  have  been  engaged  in 
the  hardy  service  of  the  sea.    "      '  'v*^ 


John  Barry  • 
Samuel  Nicholson 
Richard  Dale 
Thomas  Truxtun  • 
Richard  V.  Morris 
Alexander  Murray 
Samuel  Barron    .,mi* 
John  Rodgers 
Edward  Preble 
James  Barron 
William  Bainbridge 
Hugh  G.  Campbell 


jf*. 


GAPTAinS. 

died  at  the  head  of  the  navy,  in  1803. 

do.  do.  do.    in  1811. 

resigned  in  1802. 

do.      in  1802. 
dismissed  without  trial,  in  1804. 
died  at  the  head  of  the  service,  in  1821. 
died  1810. 

died  at  the  head  of  the  service,  in  1838. 
died  in  1807. 

at  the  head  of  the  service,  Nov.  1838. 
died  in  1833. 
died  in  1820.  ^'• 


i^ 


^> 


m 


■*-■ 


.  I  ''■  .' 


y. 


Charles  Stewart 
Isaac  Hull    • 
Andrew  Sterrett 
John  Shaw   • 
John  M*Rea  • 
Isaac  Chauncey 


LIEUTENANTS. 

•  second  on  the  list  of  captains,  Nov.  1838. 

•  third        do.  do.  do. 

-  resigned  a  master  commandant,  in  1 805. 

•  died  a  captain,  in  1823. 

.  resigned  1803.        .    '  '. 

•  fourth  on  the  list  of  captains,  Nov.  1838. 


■  'It'' 


Jf 


ir 


' ,  jKj.'- 


#' 


■-*•.  ' 

' 

■«■, 

■,-,-.f 

t 

"^''"    '*««5 

K 

»' 

,<     '                     i 

*v?  -  ■ 

"y" 

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I. 

* 

''   4'. . 

? 

'»» 


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IS  of 
4  in 


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321. 
338. 

38. 


B38. 

« 

B05. 

838. 


■#  ^ 


•m 


'm:^P\x 


#■• 


v^*-^^ 


Robert  W.  Hamilton 
^John  Ballard         w, 
John  Rush    ^^    « 
John  Smith  • 
Freeborn  Banning 
Richard  Somers    - 
Stephen  Decatur    - 
Greorge  Cox  - 
John  H.  Dent 
Thomas  Robinson,  Jr. 
John  Cowper 
John  T.  R.  Cox     - 
William  C.  Jenks  • 
David  Porter 
JohnCassin  • 
Samuel  EVans 
George  G.  Lee 
Charles  Gordon     • 
Richard  H.  L.  Lawson 
Grodfrey  Wood 
Edward  Wyer 
Geo.  W.  Tew 
Henry  Vandyke    - 
John  M.  Claggett  • 
Phil.  C.  Wederstrandt 
Joshua'BIake 
Joseph  Tarbell 
James  R.  Caldwell 
Lewis  C.  Bailey    • 

■  'taiii'     •    .  ■ 
Jacob  Jones  • 


^. 


-■% 


Wm.  Henry  Allen 
Samuel  Angus 

Thos.  O.  Anderson 


33* 


\»::#: 


APPBITDIX. 


889 


re<^igned  1802. 

resigned  l(M)l.  « 

resigned  1802.  ^ 

died  a  captain,  in  1815. 

resigned  1802. 

killed  in  battle,  a  master  com.,  in  1604. 

killed  in  a  duel,  a  captain,  in  1820. 

resigned,  a  master  commandant,  in  1808. 

died,  a  captain,  in  1823. 

resigned,  a  maste  j  commandant,  in  1809. 

reigned  in  1801. 

r^igneJIln  1804.  «^ 

dismi8sethinl804. 

resigned,  a  captain,  in  1826 

died,  a  captain,  in  1822       «%,  '  ' 

died,  a  captain,  in  1824.  '     ^^.^ 

resigned  in  1805.  '    ^t' 

died,  a  captain,  in  l8l7  ,         -  ' 

resigned  in  1804.  .^ 

resigned  in  1802.  «        *< 

resigned  in  1805.  *  '    " 

died  on  the  Mediterranean  station,  1803. 

killed  in  a  duel,  in  1803.  ,       : 

lost  in  the  Bay  of  Gibraltar,  1801.    " 

resigned,  a  master  commandant,  1810. 

resigned  in  1806.  , 

died,  a  captain,  in  1815. 

killed  in  battle,  in  1804. 

dropped  subsequently,  under  the  reduc 

tion  law. 
fifth  on  the  list  of  captains,  Nov.  1838 

KIDSHIPMEN. 

killed  in  battle,  a  master  com.,  1814. 
dismissed  and  subsequently  pensioned 

captain,  in  1824. 
resigned,  a  lieutenant,  1807. 


^^ 


'#■ 


■t^ 


; 


J  ■<■% 


.    * 


.fw- 


^.>- 


.m- 


89f0 

William  Butler 
Joseph  Bainbridge 
William  Burrows 
William  Blake 
Samuel  G.  Blodgett 
Clement  Biddle 
James  Biddle 
P.  C.  Blake 
Edward  Bennett 
Johnston  Blakely 
Thomas  T.  Beall 
Walter  Boyd  " 
Peter  E.  Bentley 
James  Biggs 
E.  R.  Blaine 
Thos.  Brown    J/.* 
Michael  B.  Carroll 
George  Calder 
Edward  N.  Cox    - 
Aaron  F.  Cook     • 
William  Campbell 
William  M.  Crane 
Stephen  Cassin 
J.  Orde  Creighton 
H.  P.  Casey 
William  Cutbush 
Henry  J.  Cobb 
J.  P.  D.  H.  Craig 
Richard  Carey 
lS     *  '  •  '■  Mr   •■ 
Charles  Coomb 
Winlock  Clark 
James  Decatur 
William  Duncanson 
John  Dorsey 
Daniel  S.  Dexter 
John  Davis   • 


%v 


*  APPIVDIX.       ^' 


resigned  1807.  « 

died,  a  captain,  in  1824t 
killed  in  battle,  a  lieut.  com.,  in  1819. 
did  not  join,  and  was  dropped.  ■')•'■  i^v- 
drowned,  a  lieutenant,  in  1810. 
resigned  1804. 

ninth  captain,  November,  1838. 
resigned  1804.  f  '-• 

died,  a  lieutenant,  in  1810.  ■      - 

lost  at  sea,  a  mast,  com.,  in  1814. 
resigned  1803. 

disniissed  in  1810.  .;^'     ,    r 

resigned  1802.  -Sj^i^       i*,    ' 

re8^gned  1803.  *    i>;  f  ^i-. 

resigned  in  1804.  v^ 

died,  a  captain,  in  1828.  *'**> 

resigned  a  master  commandant.    '  \  i 
resigned  1802. 

resigned,  a  lieutenant,  in  1809. 
permitted  to  retire,  in  1801.  '-N^* 

resigned  1802.  ■    "^  '  ' 

eighth  captain,  November,  1838. 
fideenth  captain,  in  1888.        ,    ' 
died,  a  captain,  in  1838. 
retired  in  1805.  .  '  * 

resigned  1805. 

resigned  1803.  ■        •    A  ' 

retired  in  1805. 
retired  under  peace  establishment  law, 

in  1801. 
died  in  1804. 

drowned,  a  lieutenant,  in  1810.  ' 

killed  in  battle,  a  lieutenant,  in  1604. 
dropped  from  list, 
killed  in  battle,  in  1804.  •      ^ 
died,  a  master  and  commander,  1818. 
died,  a  lieutenant,  in  1818.         4 ,  ,«. 

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George  Dabney     - 
John  Downea^:    m». 
Samuel  Elbert       «  . 
John  Gallaway 
James  Gibbon 

J.  M.  P.  Gardner 
Sloss  H.  Grinnell 
Ed.  Giles      • 
Allen  J.  Green 
Jno.  Goodwin,  Jr. 
Geo.  H.  Geddes 
Wm.  Gregory 
.Jas.  S.  Higginbotham 
Alex.  C.  Harrison 
Bernard  Henry 
George  Hackley    - 
James  Height 
Sewai  Handy 
Thos.  R.  Hardenburgh 
Philip  Henop 
A.  J.  Hinton 

John  D.  Henley     ■ 
Seymour  Hooe 
Alfred  Hazard 
John  Hartley 
John  Montresor  Haswell 
Theodore  Hunt 
Daniel  C.  Heath     • 
Robert  Henley 
Ralph  Izard 
Joseph  Israel 
Robert  Innes 
A.  K.  Kearney 
Charles  Ludlow 


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J^PPBITDIX.  .^ 

twenty-first  captain,  November,  1838. 

resigned  1805. 

twolAh  captain,  November,  1838. 

died,  a  lieutenant,  in  1812. 

died  in  1804. 

burnt  in  Richmond  theatre,  a  lieutenant, 

in  1811. 
died,  a  master  commandant,  in  1815. 
retired,  a  lieutenant,  in  1807.  % 

resigned  1804. 
resigned  1803. 
died  in  1804. 

resigned,  a  lieutenant,  in  1811 
did  not  accept.  ^< 

died,  a  lieutenant,  in  1 808. 
died,  a  lieutenant,  in  1809.       *-     ;' 
resigned,  a  lieutenant,  in  1812.    ^  *  ^ 
died  in  1805.  ,  ^si  .  • 

resigned  1802.  «  ,  h 

resigned  1804.  ^  ^^ 

did  not  join,  and  was  dropped, 
resigned  1801.      i  -^i  *^.  ^  ^  i  ^ 

subsequently  discharged  under  reduction 

law.  .    - 

died,  a  captain,  in  1835.  i^ 

resigned  1801. 
dismissed  in  1809. 

i-esigned  1802.  *     .     -j^ 

resigned,  a  lieutenant,  in  1810. 
resigned,  a  master  commandant,  in  1811. 
resigned,  a  lieutenant,  in  1805. 
died,  a  captain,  in  1828. 
resigned,  a  lieutenant,  in  1810.  ^. 

killed  in  battle,  in  1804. 
drowned  on  service,  in  1802. 
resigned,  a  lieutenant,  in  1808. 
resigned, a  mastercommandant,  in  1813. 


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809 

.   * 

Jamea  T.  Leonard 
James  Lawrence  • 
William  Livingston 
A.  B.  Lord  • 
Daniel  M'Niell,  Jr. 
il  Joseph  Murdock  • 
Louis  M*Lane 

^  William  Miller    -.v^ 
Joseph  Maxwell    a 
Charles  Mills 
Daniel  Murray 
Geo.  A.  Marcellin 
Charles  Morris,  Jr. 
Charles  Moore 
George  Merrill 
Archibald  M'Call  • 
William  M<Intosh  • 
George  Mitchell     • 
James  Mackay 
'  Thomas  M'Donough 

y  Humphrey  Magrath 
Gcoi^  Mann 
W.  R.  Nicholson  - 
Jno.  B.  Nicholson  • 

'"'  James  Nicholson  - 
William  F.  Nicholls 
William  Newman 
Edward  O'Brien 
Peter  S.  Ogilvie 
Francis  Patton 
Daniel  Polk  • 
Oliver  H.  Perry 
Benj.Page   . 
Octavius  A.  Page 
Henry  Page  - 
Daniel  T.  Patterson 


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died,  a  captain,  in  183it. 

killed  in  battle,  a  captain,  in  1818.        * 

resigned,  a  lieutenant,  in  1804. 

unknown.  **      ^ 

retired,  a  liout.,  in  1807. 

died  in  service.  "* 

resigned  in  1802 ;  aAerwards  secretary 

of  state,  die.  i|^' 

retired  in  1807. 

died,  a  lieutenant,  in  1806.  .      -^ 

resigned  1804.  ■q' 

resigned,  a  lieutenant,  in  1811.' 
died,  a  lieutenant,  in  1810. 
sixth  captain,  November,  1888. 
died,  in  service,  early, 
died,  a  lieutenant,  1822.       y 
resigned  1802. 

resigned,  a  lieutenant,  in  1808. 
fate  unknown, 
resigned  1808.         ^    < 
died,  a  captain,  in  1825.     --' 
resigned,  a  lieutenant,  in  1800.. 
resigned,  a  lieutenant,  in  1811. 
killed  in  a  duel,  in  1805. 
resigned,  a  lieutenant,  in  1810. 
resigned  1804. 
resigned  1804. 
resigned  ,1808. 

retired  in  1804.  #f 

lost  at  sea,  a  lieutenant,  in  1805. 
resigned,  a  lieutenant,  in  1806. 
resigned  1804. 

died  at  sea,  a  captain,  in  1818.    I 
resigned  1803. 

died,  a  lieutenant,  in  1818.     '     > 
resigned  1808.  ..^,   ^i.'^>f_ 

eleventh  captain,  November,  1838. 


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Stephen  Proctor    • 
States  Rutledge     • 
CharM  G.  Ridgely 
Heathcote  J.  Reed 
George  W.  Reed  - 
Charles  Reed 
Benj.  Franklin  Read 
Jos.  Richardson    • 
John  Rowe  • 
James  Renshaif    • 
Charles  Robinson  • 
Benjamin  Smith    - 
Arthur  Sinclair     • 
Robert  Stewart 
William  Scallen    - 
John  Shattuck 
G.  W.  Spottswood 
Maurice  Simons    • 
Daniel  Simms 
John  Shore  • 
H.  Savage    • 
W.  P.  Smith 
Sidney  Smith 
Thomas  Swartwout,  Jr. 
Robert  T.  Spence 
Simon  Smith 
W.  M.  Smith 
Richard  Thomas   • 
John  Trlppe 
Rob.  L.  Tilghman 
William  Thorn      - 
Edward  Trenchard 
Jonathan  Thorn    • 
Benjamin  Turner  - 
Jacob  R.  Valk 
Jacob  Vickery       •. 


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died  at  sea,  a  master  com.,  in  1614. 

resigned  1803.         •       <<i»j   , .      h    '; 

resigned  1802. 

tenth  captain,  November,  1838. 

died,  a  lieutenant,  in  1812. 

died,  a  mastei;  commandant,  in  1818. 

resigned  1806.  .  *' 

died,  a  lieutenant  commandant}  In  1812 

resigned  1808. 

resigned,  a  lieutenant,  in  1808. 

fifteenth  captain,  November,  1838 

resigned  1807. 

died,  a  lieutenant,  in  1807. 

died,  a  captain,  in  1831.     • 

drowned,  a  lieutenant.      ■  "  ■  * 

resigned  1806.        ,     j^  *, 

fate  unknown,  a  lieutenant.  .^ 

resigned  1803. 

declined. 

resigned  1804.  :  * 

resigned  1803.         ^      „   ,* 

resigned  1801. 

resigned,  a  lieutenant,  in  1808. 

died,  a  master  commandant,  in  1627. 

killed  in  a  duel,  in  1801. 

died,  a  captain,  in  1827.  • 

died  at  sea,  in  1806. 

declined.  '    '    ,  . . 

resigned  1802. 

died,  a  lieutenant  commandant,  in  1610. 

resigned  1802. 

retired  in  1805.  "^ 

died,  a  captain,  in  1824. 

blown  up,  a  lieutenant,  in  1810. 

killed  in  a  duel,  a  lieutenant,  in  1807. 

resigned  in  1808. 

declined. 


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Sybrant  Vtn  Schaick 
A.  Woodruff         - 
Daniel  Wurts 
E.  Willi!      . 
Heory  W^worth 
John  Wood  • 
Walter  Winter      • 
Lewis  Warrington 
Ckarles  Wi'ion     • 
M.  T.  Woolsey     - 
Wallace  Wormley 
Samuel  Woodhouse 


AiTBITBIX.  . 

retrigned,  a  Ueutenont,  ii^  1807.  . 

resigned  in  1808.  i 

resigned  in  180S> 

drowned  in  Bay  df  Gibraltar,  ItOO.    \ 

killed  in  battle,  a  lieutenant,  in  1604. 

resigned  ii^  U04.  ^ 

dnyirned,  a  lieutenant,  in  1818. 

ieventh  captain,  November,  1888. 

resi  ;nltll03. 

died,  a  captaiq,  in  1888. 

entered  marine  oprps.  * 

twentieth  captain,  November,  1838. 


'  This  list  contains  the  names  of  the  officers  who  were  left  in  the 
service,  after  various  changes,  and  it  will  be  seen  that,  of  even  them, 
many  soon  after  resigned.  Officers,  however,  were  retained,  whose 
names  do  not  appear  here,  but  who  declined.  Among  these  was 
Com.  Talbot,  dec.  dec. 

Of  twenty-three  medical  gentlemen  retained,  but  one.  Dr.  Cow- 
dery,  now  the  oldest  surgeon,  is  still  in  service.  Of  thirty-cne  of- 
ficers of  the  marine  corps,  all  have  left  it,  or  are  dead,  and  we  can 
trace  the  public  career  of  but  one,  who  is  still  living,  the  present 
Brig.  Gen.  Fenwick,  of  the  artillery. 

■J,'      -■•*'>":      , 

■^^ 
Non. — ^In  describing^  Tripoli  the  author  wu  unable  to  procure  an  ac- 
curate chart,  though  he  has  since  been  more  ■uccessful.  On  examination* 
he  finds  that  his  distances  are  a  trifle  too  great.  The  town  is  also  a 
little  larger  in  some  directions  than  he  had  supposed.  But  the  chart 
given  will  correct  these  mistakes. 

-^'■■.'-^  '         ''7. 


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